MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT
Stephanie Brincat - in Sydney - 02 8297 7200
Stella de Vulder - in Barcelona - +61 412 341 013
James Grose - in Barcelona - +61 413 027 070
AUSTRALIA WINS BEST HEALTH BUILDING IN THE WORLD
BVN Architecture won the Health Category award at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) this evening
(Wednesday 3 November) in Barcelona for the Youth Mental Health Building at the Brain and Mind
Research Institute (BMRI) in Camperdown, Sydney.
James Grose, BVN National Director said, ‘this building was designed to take into account many diverse
requirements and constraints, it had to provide a human scaled and tactile environment for mental
health patients on one hand and address an inner-city streetscape that combines residences and the
remnants of the industrial character of Camperdown on the other’.
The jury recognised the sophisticated intervention that addresses these various requirements, by giving
it the Health award over other entrants from around the world, including a hospital in the UK by
Norman Foster and Partners.
The BMRI is part of the Faculty of Medicine of The University of Sydney focussed on research into
mental health and clinical issues relating to the brain.
The Youth Mental Health Building consists of two floors of consulting and patient interaction and two
floors of research laboratories.
The challenge was fitting this new facility into a group of existing buildings - the result is a design that
is integrated into the streetscape with a translucent glass box sitting on top of an existing facade
making a rich and interesting contribution to the neighbourhood.
Mr Grose commended his clients, particularly Prof Ian Hickie and Dr Max Bennett for their support
through the creative and design process of this now world acclaimed project.
‘This World Architecture Festival award is a tremendous confidence booster for Australian architects,’
he said.
´For some time now Australian architecture has been defined on the world stage by its derivation from
the unique landscape. As urban projects become more prominent, Australian design is incrementally
making our cities equal to anywhere in the world,’ said Mr Grose. ENDS
4 NOVEMBER 2010
ATTACHED IMAGES OF BMRI - photographer John Gollings
ATTACHED IMAGE OF JAMES GROSE - photographer Karl Schwerdtfeger
NEWS 
