The Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation project establishes a new benchmark in therapeutic environments for mental health care in regional NSW.

 

Located on Wonnarua Country and nestled between a rocky escarpment and a wetland, the design sensitively integrates with the landscape, transforming a former brickworks site into a calm, nature-connected healing space.

The core design driver is to provide spaces for healing, with every decision — material, spatial, and environmental — rooted in the principles of connection, dignity, and care.

The architecture and interior design work to deliberately counter institutional stereotypes: long, low-pitched roofs, a restrained material palette, and generous courtyards give the project a distinctly residential character. The buildings cascade along the natural contours of the site, reinforcing a strong sense of place and visual connection to Country. The central arrival space serves as a threshold between indoors and outdoors, linking the internal program to the bushland, and creating an immediate sense of calm upon entry.

Designed to support recovery, the built form is composed of small-scale residential units organised around light-filled courtyards and open-plan communal areas. Each unit features a mix of social, sensory, and private spaces to suit a wide range of patient needs. Chill-out zones, sensory rooms, and therapy spaces are designed to promote self-management and de-escalation. Skylights and large windows flood interiors with daylight, while external views and access to landscaped courtyards help reduce stress and support daily routines.

The material palette draws from the site’s geology and surrounding bushland. A base of warm masonry grounds the buildings and references the site’s industrial past, while fine fenestration elements reflect the verticality of local eucalypts.

Special attention has been given to staff areas, with efficient and safe circulation, good lines of visibility, and access to outdoor areas for respite. Importantly, the gathering space adjacent to the entry is the anchor space for the project. Offering expansive views across the landscape, the main lobby is welcoming and supports family visits, community interaction, and art therapies.

On this health campus, the landscape is not just a backdrop, it’s an essential part of the healing process. Walking paths, activity and gathering spaces are placed amongst existing trees and regenerated environments. Over time, building users will plant and manage the therapeutic garden spaces.