Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Healthcare Hub Newman
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
2021 Western Australia Architecture Awards
2021 Western Australia Architecture Awards: Public
Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Healthcare Hub Newman | Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
“**Conceptual Framework:** was to build on more than a decade’s experience working with Western Desert communities to provide a state-of-the-art facility which is deeply rooted in place and imbued with humanity that engenders community ownership. This is central to physically representing the ethos of the client, increasing presentation rates, and placing wellness at the centre of community which is imperative for closing the gap. Above all this is achieved by genuinely involving Aboriginal people and respecting / reflecting people, culture, and Country.
**Public and Cultural Benefits:** include a state-of-the-art health facility including allied health, dental, dialysis etc. which will keep many more people on Country and significantly reduce visits to Perth. Newman’s first truly Aboriginal community public building and public outdoor space serving as a community hub. The art screens from a female / male artist from each of the 4 Martu communities and Newman, the rammed earth and extensive endemic planting combine to embody the community’s history, culture, and Country enabling the building to serve as a community hub and be a statement of a more positive future.
**Relationship of the Built Form to Context:** In using rammed earth with all the earth coming from the site the building uses Country to become part of Country. The weather and seasons are reflected on the building as they do on Country. This is combines with the 4000+ endemic plants and existing site trees to make the building look as if it was always there.
**Program Resolution:** The clinical and office programs are resolved by being separated yet connected by the courtyard which serves as the building’s hub and outdoor waiting and community space. The public areas can be surveyed from the offices with the more private areas orientated to the rear facades. Clinical and patient flow has been carefully considered to avoid long or dark corridors.
**Integration of Allied disciplines:** has been key to the outcome including sustainability, landscaping, art, and rammed earth. These required extensive integration of the community, client, and professionals.
**Cost / Value Outcome:** The project was delivered within the standard Commonwealth funding for such a project with no additional funds for consultation, rammed earth, landscaping, art etc.
**Sustainability:** The rammed earth, significantly reduces embodied energy and improves building performance. The landscaping ecologically repairs the degrade site with endemic species and shades the building. These combine with the 150kW photovoltaic system which has provided 100% of the buildings electricity during core daylight hours and 85% overall enabling more money to be spent on health. The solar array is already one of the largest rooftop systems north of Perth and has increased the photovoltaic capacity of the Newman postcode by 13% according to Australian PV Institute data 2020.
**Response to Client and User Needs:** The building has been absolutely embraced by the community becoming a community hub above being a health facility. High presentation rates are testament to its success with doctors complaining that there are too many patients.
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Client Perspective:
This project was the result of extensive consultation by the architect with the community being part and parcel of the design of the building. They have a lot of input in what they wanted to see in the finished product. An example is how the Martu elders and others from all the four desert communities and Newman have been incorporated into the project. The outcome has been embraced by the community and been a great success with remarkably high presentation rates. This shows the community are comfortable here and enables PAMS to extend our wellness activities.