05. Hospital Quiet Room

In June 2010, the Kununurra Rotary Club staged a fundraising event to raise money for a Quiet Room at the Kununurra Hospital. The fundraiser was conceived as 100 women walking 100km over several days to raise 100,000 dollars; and was so successful that other clubs around Australia are following in their footsteps.

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The project was expanded to include the creation of a Transit Room as well as the Quiet Room within the existing Kununurra hospital precinct to accommodate the essential needs of patients and community that aren't adequately provided for in the existing building. 

 

The Brief for the Quiet Room was for a contemplative space for patients and family going through traumatic experiences in the hospital - a place where you can withdraw from the rush and noise and clinical practicality of the hospital environment; and rest quietly with your thoughts.

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The existing room that was allocated was small and narrow, and the concept was to use an image of a Kimberley scene on panels to expand your perspective beyond the walls of the hospital environment. The scale of the scene is such that you can spend long periods of time looking at the details and almost fall into it, providing a view out to a horizon beyond the immediate experience.

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The quiet room opens on to a private courtyard, and the concept is for the sun to filter down into the courtyard through a pattern cut into the roof sheet.  The experience of time is warped when stuck inside the hospital building; and so as the sun moves overhead the pattern of light moves across the ground and traces the passing of the day in the quiet room and courtyard. The courtyard has louvres on three sides, allowing the occupants to determine the level of privacy and ventilation they require.