Conrad Gargett+Wardle has delivered Australia’s first specialized cardiac hospital, the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, setting a new global standard in cardiac hospital design. The Victoria Heart Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility costing AUD 564 million and operated by Monash Health on the Clayton campus of Monash University, is now fully operational. It offers world-class clinical cardiology services, research, and education.
This 196-bed hospital features seven catheterization laboratories and dedicates an entire floor out of eight to Monash University’s cardiac research, including an independent Monash Cardiovascular Research Center. Its human-centered architectural design embraces biophilic principles and promotes health benefits by seamlessly integrating architecture, clinical planning, interior design, and landscape architecture, incorporating outdoor spaces as calm and therapeutic environments.
“Scientific research has conclusively shown that connecting patients with nature within healthcare settings significantly improves treatment outcomes, including their experience and recovery rates,” said Paul Emmett, clinical planning lead and principal investigator from Conrad Gargett.
“With this in mind, we designed the Victoria Heart Hospital’s centerpiece—the ‘Gravity Heart’—featuring a large central courtyard that maximizes opportunities for interaction with the outdoors and surrounding landscape,” added Meaghan Dwyer, architectural director and partner at Wardle.
The ‘Gravity Heart’ forms the core of the hospital, with the building shaped around a picturesque courtyard. This space serves as both a central navigation point and a tranquil area that visually and physically connects the building’s interior with the outdoors.
“Hospital design must seamlessly integrate everyday operations with a clear, easily navigable organizational structure,” Emmett explained. “Equally important are the spatial, material, and environmental qualities that define the hospital’s character.”
“These aspects strongly influence the mindset of occupants and ultimately shape the therapeutic environment,” he added.
The hospital’s public spaces radiate outward from the circular courtyard, providing a dynamic contrast to the linear layout of other areas. Public and clinical circulation corridors frame the courtyard and connect to adjacent features such as the university sports field and the distant Dandenong Mountains, reinforcing a strong connection to nature and natural light.
Victoria Heart Specialist Hospital draws from the experiences of leading international cardiac hospitals. The design team, along with Monash Health, visited facilities in Singapore, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom to gain insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
“Visiting other cardiac hospitals challenged traditional design norms and inspired us to innovate within the guidelines of Australian healthcare institutions,” Emmett remarked.
Victoria Heart Specialist Hospital has been thoughtfully designed to offer a highly personalized experience, reducing stress for patients and their families as they navigate clinical spaces.
Wardle Principal Stefan Mee, responsible for the architectural design, said, “Upon arrival, the hospital feels open and welcoming, with spacious gaps and a central café that create the atmosphere of a civic space rather than a traditional hospital.”
He added, “The gradual transition through the building enhances a sense of calm in the clinical areas, fostering a safe and comfortable environment for patients.”
The carefully curated interior color palette combines natural wood and earthy tones, inspired by the surrounding landscape’s colors and textures. A historic river red gum eucalyptus tree, known as the Masison tree and over 400 years old, proudly stands at the main entrance, symbolizing this connection.
The hospital’s striking weather-resistant steel facade makes it a landmark on the Monash campus, while harmoniously blending into the lush greenery and providing shade.
“Perforated steel screens will naturally weather over time, reducing thermal loads and minimizing glare, while maintaining open views thanks to their perforation density,” Mee explained.
“These screens also diffuse natural light, softening shadows to create a calm atmosphere indoors.”
The design process began with a comprehensive project vision seminar led by Sarah Williams Goldhagen, a former Harvard professor and award-winning author and lecturer specializing in architecture, landscape, urban design, infrastructure, and public art. This seminar unified clients, stakeholders, and design consultants around a shared vision, contributing to the project’s success.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Fifth Floor Plan
△ Seventh Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architects: Conrad Gargett, Wardle
Year: 2023
Photographer: Peter Bennett
Manufacturers: Caroma, Corian, Forbo, George Fethers, Horizon International Paving, InStyle, K5, Laminex, Maharam, Ontera, Shaw, Tarkett, Vescom
Health Design Director: Rebecca Moore
Director of Health Facility Planning: Paul Emmett
Clinical Interior Design Director: Laura Molloy
Construction Project Director: Meaghan Dwyer
Design Director: Stefan Mee
Project Manager: Yee Jien
Architectural Design: Wardle, Conrad Gargett
Location: Clayton, Australia
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