The Skin Centre

Hospitals form a very important part of the social fabric in our society and have slowly evolved from clinical purpose driven facilities to environments which acknowledge that they cannot only address the physical wellbeing of patients, but must also address the mental well being.

There is also a trend away from relegating hospitals to health precincts along the outskirts of city centres which involve long journeys. Patients and particularly the elderly benefit from easy access to medical care with short travel times and close proximity to other public facilities such as retail centres.

The Skin Centre breaks the mould for stereotypical hospital facilities with a central location and an emphasis on high architectural quality. It is a state of the art facility and the first of its kind in Queensland, incorporating a dedicated Mohs Micrographic Surgery Hospital. Mohs micrographic surgery is considered to be the gold standard in the treatment of BCC and SCC skin cancers (i.e. basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the most prevalent skin cancers affecting Australians). A medical facility of this size and nature will attract interstate patients and the best medical talent to the Gold Coast which assists the local economy and job creation.

The hospital incorporates ancillary residential components which allow for patients to recuperate on site. The residential zones are located above the hospital facilities, are set back from the building perimeter, and include opportunities for planting, greatly contributing to the visual integration of the development to the adjacent residential areas.

The development is broken down into 2 distinct building forms to reduce bulk and scale. The building forms are connected via an elevated walkway structure which ties the building forms together, serves as an all-weather drop off point for patients and provides a visual link to the existing residential development to the south.

All parking is located at ground level. Services areas are located out of sight and away from residential areas. A small café located to the north provides a communal meeting place and opportunity for patients and nearby residents to relax.

The whole complex is designed to be a welcoming space with plenty of greenery and design quality and detailing more reminiscent of high end office environments.