Queensland
Brisbane
The Architectus Conrad Gargett health and heritage teams have reimagined the historic 1920s convent at Mater Hill in South Brisbane into Queensland’s largest and most comprehensive integrated perinatal mental healthcare facility.
Catherine’s House for Mothers, Babies and Families, located in the heart of Mater’s South Brisbane l campus, was created in response to the pressing need for perinatal mental healthcare support in the region.
Catherine’s House includes ten suites designed to be homely spaces offering separate lounge areas with adjoining baby room while also meeting high level clinical requirements. The design fosters interaction among mothers with shared lounge and dining areas, as well as a large secure outdoor courtyard.
The project successfully retained, reused and celebrated the cultural heritage significance of the former convent and importantly, enabled change to integrate contemporary building services, meet current certification requirements and provide a meaningful home for postnatal mental healthcare in South East Queensland.
While it is evident that the design layouts had to be guided by the constraints of the existing heritage building that was not originally built with intent to house mental health unit, Catherine’s House is an absolutely beautiful building that blends the old and new really well and has a lovely, calming feeling.
Our consumers and staff all comment on what a beautiful space it is especially those who have previous experience of mental health units. It is great to be able to have all related services in the one building as we all work closely with one another.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
