A complex design brief for families affected by violence
The project brief for Ruah, the first purpose-built centre in Western Australia for women and children affected by family and domestic violence, provided a meaningful design challenge.
Sitting seven storeys high on a prominent corner in the Perth suburb of Northbridge, Ruah’s commercial façade belies the project’s true undertaking: a highly secure and holistic haven, including women’s health and family empowerment services, support services and accommodation.
Senior Architect Lauren Hampton describes the Ruah design brief as complex and continually evolving.
“It was an interesting task to separate the user groups and fit all of these tailored spaces into a small building footprint.”
The building offers an incredible suite of services to families that have experienced violence, including accommodation for mothers and their children, as well as physical and mental health services, counselling services, alcohol and other drug support, a dentist and even a boutique space for women to have their hair done and choose new clothing.
The obvious benefit to this all-in-one or ‘jewellery box’ approach is that women and children can receive multiple services in a single day without needing to tell their story multiple times and allowing for smooth coordination of services.
Hampton says the holistic design approach is a first for family and domestic violence services in WA. “This will be a benchmark for Ruah and for future governments and organisations looking to execute something similar.”
The team worked closely with Ruah’s First Nations Representative and Stakeholder group to create a design that embraces the importance of community and family within First Peoples culture.
Further considerations included an interior palette of earthy tones and light fittings hand-woven by First Nations artists upon entry in the lobby spaces.
Despite the highly tailored nature of Ruah’s design, Hampton says that building will constantly evolve.
Therapy and group spaces, known as ’empowerment spaces’, are built to be flexible, as are lobby and group rooms, which feature operable walls to accommodate different client functions. Engagement with Ruah clients has also continued throughout the process and clients were brought in to assess the space after its completion.
Ruah Centre for Women and Children opened on 23 October 2024 and is expected to provide support for 600 women and children each year.
“This building has been designed with the human experience at its core,” says Architectus Principal Mark Black. “It’s community-focused and will make a remarkable difference to many lives.”
Learn more about the project.
