Hassell

Mental health care is evolving, and design is helping to lead the way. At Hassell, we believe healing environments should support not just patients but also their families, carers, and staff. The Ipswich Hospital Acute Mental Health Unit is a testament to this philosophy. This award-winning, 64-bed facility in Ipswich, Australia, redefines care by prioritising recovery-focused, whole-person support. Every detail — from architecture to interiors to landscaping — works in harmony to create a space that nurtures dignity, connection, and healing. As Damien Russell, Nursing Director Community and Acute Mental Health Service, of West Moreton Hospital and Health Service notes, "The design of the spaces, both inside and out, really makes a difference. It helps calm patients, reduces agitation, and even supports faster recovery." 🔗 Discover what Hassell Principal Stephen Watson has to say about redefining care through design: https://lnkd.in/eTNTBJ8t #DesignForMentalHealth #HealingLandscapes #CoDesign #MentalHealth #HealthDesign Queensland Health

Parkville Station — one of five new stations for the forthcoming Metro Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Australia — is set to connect passengers to the heart of the city’s world-renowned health and education precinct. Here, we reveal five little-known facts about the design of this newly completed landmark for the city, due to open to the public later this year. 1. Parkville Station is conceptualised as a street beneath a street — a subterranean reflection of the new ‘boulevard’ above, providing places to meet and interact. 2. A central design feature is a 54-metre-long glass and steel canopy which, together with skylights, draws natural light into the station concourse. 3. You can see the sky from the platform, which is 25m below ground.  4. The station has some of the tallest uninterrupted concrete columns on the entire metro project, where one column is a whopping 21m high. That is the rough equivalent of a seven-story building. 5. Artist Patricia Piccinni has created Vernal Glade — an expansive field of handmade tiles located on the entrance wall that responds to the precinct’s identity as a place of medicine, healing and learning. In addition to the new station, a grand promenade and biodiversity corridor along Melbourne’s Grattan Street has been created to complement the city’s vibrant health and education quarter — a place of exploration and ideas. The generous streetscape design connects the station with the many tram, bus, cycling and walking routes, creating a gateway to The University of Melbourne and hospitals. The design for the Metro Tunnel is a world-class collaboration between leading design practices Hassell, WW+P Architects and RSHP. 🔗 Learn more about our collaborative design for Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project: https://lnkd.in/g3uc_GkP #ParkvilleStation #MetroTunnel #MetroTunnelProject #Melbourne Rail Projects Victoria

What does it look like when a 1960s high school gets a 21st-century upgrade? In Perth, Western Australia, Balcatta Senior High School has set a new benchmark for blending heritage and innovation. The campus has undergone an award-winning transformation that celebrates its rich architectural history while embracing the needs of contemporary education. At the heart of this redevelopment lies a seamless integration of old and new. The Australian Institute of Architects captured it perfectly: “The interface between old and new seems effortless.” Subtle yet meaningful interventions preserve the character of the original 1960s campus, while modern design elements breathe new life into the space. The result? A campus that feels both timeless and forward-looking.   🔗 Explore more of our regenerative designs and work in education: https://lnkd.in/dzfnqtbK 📷 Photography by Robert Frith from Acorn Photography #AdaptiveReuse #Perth #Architecture #Design #EducationDesign

Designing inclusive places that are accessible for everyone should be common practice — but we know there’s more to be done to build a truly equitable future.   At Hassell, we’re committed to being an inclusive, progressive design firm that fosters a diverse team and embeds equality into every layer of the built environment — right from the very first concept design.   That’s why we’ve contributed to Equity by Design, a bold new resource from the Champions of Change Coalition. It’s a practical guide for integrating gender equality, accessibility, culture and wellbeing into the design process — turning ideas into action and reshaping what thoughtful, inclusive design can achieve. Developed by the Coalition’s Architecture Group (AJC, SJB, Cox Architecture, Billard Leece Partnership and Hassell), Equity by Design represents a collective effort to ensure spaces are safe, accessible and empowering for all.   From well-lit transport hubs that feel safe to workplaces with inclusive amenities, the guide is packed with case studies and practical actions showing how thoughtful design can foster dignity. By addressing the nuanced needs of underrepresented groups — including women, Indigenous communities, and people with disabilities — it highlights how design can truly make a difference.   Anchored to the Coalition’s 7 Switches framework — a system designed to uncover bias and go beyond compliance — it empowers organisations to set a new benchmark for inclusive design. The goal? To create spaces where equity moves beyond a checklist and becomes a cornerstone, fostering environments where everyone can truly thrive.   🔗Download the resource here: https://lnkd.in/gTYFVeva #Hassell #ChampionsofChangeCoalition #Inclusion #Diversity #Equity #EquityinDesign #PublicSpaces #PlaceMaking

Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport is a rare opportunity to profoundly impact the culture of the new city of Bradfield by establishing public transport channels prior to housing, roads and other facilities. Orchard Hills Station for example, will service a future residential, commercial and mixed-use precinct, helping to transform the area into a compact, amenity rich and walkable new community. The comprehensive design approach ensures that public transport is central, seamless, and preferable to driving — inspiring people to move in a way that supports the future wellbeing of the community as well as the surrounding environment. 🔗 Learn more about our design for Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport here: https://lnkd.in/g9QiDB_s 🖼 Imagery by Doug + Wolf #Hassell #UrbanTransport #Precincts #SydneyMetro #PlacesPeopleLove Djinjama Plenary Group Webuild Siemens Mobility RATP Dev

Big ideas often start with bold visions — and this one is truly exceptional. Aveo, appointed by the NSW Government, is reimagining the former Manly Hospital site in Sydney, Australia transforming it into a vibrant health and wellbeing precinct. We’re honoured to be part of this journey at Hassell, bringing urban design, architecture, and landscape architecture to the table. Think seniors housing, affordable living, aged care, public spaces full of life, a health and wellbeing centre, community hubs, retail spaces, and even a childcare centre — all coming together in one incredible place. The heritage buildings on this beloved Sydney site will be revitalised and adaptively reused to celebrate the past while serving the needs of the present. This is how communities grow: with purpose, creativity, and a shared commitment to creating a better future. 🔗 Discover more of our award-winning architecture and healthcare design: https://lnkd.in/g892bPPN 🔗 Explore our latest urban design projects: https://lnkd.in/gp_GWjDB #Healthcare #Precincts #Sydney #HealthcareDesign #UrbanDesign #LandscapeDesign #Architecture

Hassell is delighted to announce that Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct has received an honourable mention in this year’s AA Prize for Unbuilt Work.   In collaboration with Djinjama, COLA Studio and Edition Office, Ngurra is a cultural landmark that expresses the significance of First Nations’ history and traditions in Australia’s national conscience.   The jury recognised the considered positioning of Ngurra which makes space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and futures in a location where First Nations voices have historically been disregarded.   “Beyond the political discourse that this proposal generates, it’s an exemplary collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous designers, with a scheme that promotes contemplation of architecture’s role in reconciliation. The project’s considered spatial hierarchy, material choices and references to the surrounding Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country are inspiring for the future of co-design.”   Above all, Ngurra is grounded in First Nations knowledge, in actions and decisions that support and sustain all forms of life – human, plant and animal. 🔗 Learn more about Ngurra here: https://lnkd.in/g7XsWwEB   🖼 Images by WAX Architectural Visualizations #Hassell #CulturalPrecinct #Sustainability #IndigenousDesign #DesignCompetition #PublicSpaces #PlaceMaking #ArtsandCulture #CulturalEngagement

The newly completed Usher Building at The University of Edinburgh stands as a contemporary landmark that respects the city's rich history. Designed by Hassell, its solid, civic façade thoughtfully reflects the character of Edinburgh — acknowledging its proximity to the iconic castle and historic centre. But this building is more than its architecture. It’s a hub of progress. Home to the Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, it brings together researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and industry partners working to solve today’s most pressing health and social care challenges. Inside, the design prioritises wellbeing and collaboration. Flexible workspaces, open staircases, and communal areas are crafted to support both physical and mental health, fostering an environment where ideas and innovation can thrive. In a city known for its legacy of knowledge and discovery, the Usher Building is designed to inspire. 🔗 Learn more about our design for the Usher Building: https://lnkd.in/drx7nFgH 📷 Photography by Hufton+Crow #UsherBuilding #EdinburghBioQuarter #HealthInnovation #EducationDesign #UniversityDesign #WellbeingDesign #SustainableArchitecture #FlexibleWorkspaces #HealthcareResearch #DesignForHealth #InnovationDistrict #UniversityOfEdinburgh

What does the future of retail look like, and who is driving it? The retail industry is evolving with a significant shift towards younger consumers as Gen Z (18-27 years old) emerges as the most influential demographic in terms of spending power. This generational change is shaping new consumption patterns, including the rise of social media-driven shopping. Unlike traditional online shopping, where consumers have an item in mind to purchase, social media has become a popular platform for discovering trends and buying new products. According to E-Marketer, 40% of Gen Z in America have brought at least one thing off TikTok. In seeking retail experiences that go beyond transactions, Gen Z is also driving a preference for unique and immersive retail experiences, such as pop-ups, brand and food-and-beverage collaborations — and real life street retail. 🔗 Learn more about what the future consumer looks like in The Future of Retail report: https://lnkd.in/gKUtsBkz #TheFutureOfRetail #RetailResearch #TheFutureOfShopping #TheFutureConsumer #GenZ #ExperientialRetail #PlacesPeopleLove 

For decades, workplaces were rigid — desks in rows, everyone seated, everyone the same. But in Deloitte’s Sydney headquarters on Gadigal land, Australia the office has evolved. Here, workspaces flex and adapt. You can sit. You can stand. You can collaborate. The space bends to you, not the other way around. And something curious happens when a workspace acknowledges human diversity: people feel drawn in. They engage more. They connect. They take pride in where they are and what they do. Perhaps the best work environments don’t just house work — they empower it. 🔗 Learn more about our magnetic workplace design: https://lnkd.in/gRSXcRq2 📷 Photography by Earl Carter #Deloitte #QuayQuarterTowerSydney #QQT #WorkplaceDesign #Innovation #OfficeDesign #DesignExcellence