Melbourne Open House - Footscray Hospital
Dear friends and colleagues,
I had the opportunity to visit the soon-to-be-open Footscray Hospital, with thanks to @Openhousemelbourne on Sunday 1st February 2026 for hosting the event. I’ve included a few of my photos, mostly details and “moments” I captured during my experience. A few observations include:
- Curved floor plans, common design language and motifs, an intentionally softened design language particularly in the interiors. Further, on the curves and “flowing” floor plans and elevations, are these narrative links to the Maribyrnong River, Footscray Park and Beyond?
- Each building on the campus was designed by a combined Architectural + Health Planner team but all used some kind of common design language. Curved ceilings, floor plan arrangements, use of primary colours particularly greens and yellows in the interiors, and use of pink and reds in the Emergency / Triage areas.
– The design language changes with the type and scale of spaces, for example domestic to public and with this materials and surfaces change, such as using timber and tiles in places that have the most human interaction.
- Emergency and Triage is still a rabbit warren (I get it, lots of BOH that needs to be immediately available and proximate given the nature of emergency care), but very well signed and accessible. A nod to Gordon Street Western Health with the “coloured lines” helping us navigate inside.
The Geelong Road Emergency entrance is flanked with red pillars within the port d’corché signifying you are in the right place. Triage was comfortable with seating and views to outside, but I noticed… public telephones mounted at two different heights, one for those who are able-bodied, and another for those of us who use a wheelchair or pusher. A thoughtful gesture.
- The power of the Village Green is undisputed. It will be the real public face and organising device on campus for all buildings (including the carpark!) – everything pinwheels from this. This was my favourite space. The Green is seen from most spaces on campus. The Village Green also has a series of light wells that provide natural light to the subterranean carparks below, making them much easier to navigate by being able to look up.
This provides a major civic function, offering a variety of areas for shade, rest, and play – included a yarning circle and fire pit. The thick grass was so enticing to lie down upon, once locals work this out, they won’t leave.
- Generous Hospital Street on the Ground Floor within the Acute and Sub-Acute towers. Large volume with served and servant spaces. The ground floor “street” a place of contradictions of movement, stillness, commerce, refreshment and meeting. The Geelong Road side facing the Village Green had the most public-use spaces with a mixture of seats, tables and niches for however you might spend your lunch break or visit.
The “Main Entry” might exist on Ballarat Road (for cars and direct access to Victoria University), but I would still consider the Geelong Road / Federal Street as the real entry being pedestrian and cyclist-accessible addressing the closest site-corner to Footscray.
- Narratives with the people of Footscray, as well as the past. The lower levels held a few historical interpretations of the former Victoria University campus site and buildings that used to be here on site. Reclaimed brick and bluestone masonry from these buildings has been reused in the Village Green on the pathways and low-height walls. Further the terracotta pre-cast panels that feature throughout is speaking to the former brickmaking past of Footscray, but also to those terracotta roofs that once existed on site.
The interpretation included profiles of past and contemporary local residents which I highly recommend you visit and enjoy. This is in addition to the wonderful Welcome to Country Tapestry within the Hospital Street by artists Maree Clarke and Mitch Mahoney.
- A place of a place of health, care and rehabilitation. From the Acute Care level 8 wards these were light-filled places with views to the outside and surrounding suburbs. In being places for this purpose, the experience of interiors and the views outside are one and the same.
Views to the Village Green, and the panoramic views of the west including places like Jack’s Magazine, Footscray Park, and the West Gate certainly gives opportunity for reflection during difficult circumstances that we all face in one stage of our lives, or another adds another dimension of spatial experience.
*****
Reuniting long-lost university colleagues
On a side note, thank you Diane Greenwood, Architect and Health Planner at Billard Leece Partnership who worked with a very large team on the Acute Care Tower. It was great to catch up and meet a few of your team members who drove the project. I really appreciate your insights from your experience, and what this campus means for the health and wellbeing of so many Victorians.
Don’t worry, the “happy accidents” provided design opportunities (such as a display area for models of the Gordon Street Western Health Campus within the Hospital Street under an unsuspecting stair-run).
Well for me as a Footscray resident, waiting for “open” has been worth it. During construction, including during the Lockdown Era’s of hearing those drills cracking rock and the tower cranes swinging high above Geelong Road has made it worth it.
Thank you to the State Government of Victoria, including the Victorian Health Building Authority, and all your project players including Plenary Health as project sponsor, Multiplex as lead contractor and of course Cox Architecture, Billard Leece Partnership and Tract Consult as lead design team. And thank you to all Victorian taxpayers who funded and supported this project.
Cheers,
RH
Redmond Hamlett is a Director (Projects) at WHDA.