Location
Victoria, Australia
Client
Victorian Health & Human Services Building Authority
Role
Consultant, Design Research
Year
2019
Value
n/a
Contact
Mungo Smith
MAAP were commissioned by the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority (VHHSBA) to provide analysis, mapping, and learnings from case studies into the planning and development of mental health facilities in Victoria and to inform VHHSBA of opportunities for improvement in their current service model.
The Missing Middle
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The process commenced with a research stage focussed on a literature review of:
- community and hospital based services since de-institutionalisation.
- current policy and research into new opportunities for the delivery of mental health services in Victoria and Australia generally.
The research identified the need for a national network of specialised community mental health hubs that can provide rapid and expert backup for GPs or Headspace centres and meet the urgent and ongoing needs of more complex patients at locations which are close to home and have the capacity for extended hours outreach.
The literature review was followed by a design research stage which examined two potential sites for new types of community / mental health accommodation. A number of new typologies was tested at the two locations and options showing the most potential were explored in more detail, expressed in site plans and 3D visualisations.