Catherine’s House for Mothers, Babies and Families
Catherine’s House for Mothers, Babies and Families
Client:
Mater Misericordiae Ltd
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Traditional Custodians of the Land:
Turrbal people
Status:
Built, 2023
Contact Person:
Rebecca Moore
The historic Mater Convent in Brisbane has been revitalised into Queensland’s largest and most comprehensive perinatal mental health facility. Catherine’s House, located at the heart of the Mater Hill campus, responds to the pressing need for this type of care in the region. transforming the lives of mothers, babies, and families.
The project involved balancing the preservation of the building’s heritage with the integration of contemporary building service. The facility also needed to meet current certification requirements for a Level Six mental health facility.
Our team conserved and refurbished the building’s original stained-glass windows, terrazzo flooring, and ornate timber wall , and carefully added new elements such as doors and openings. We also enclosed the historic verandas in a way that retains the original intent of the building, and we immaculately conserved and upgraded the three dominant sets of stairs to meet modern certification requirements.
The facility includes ten accommodation suites designed to feel like comfortable, domestic-style spaces while still meeting high-level clinical requirements. Each room includes a separate lounge area and an adjoining room for babies.
The design encourages interaction between mothers and families with group dining, shared lounge areas, and communal baby bathing facilities, as well as a large secure courtyard for enjoying the outdoors.
The final result is a facility that seamlessly integrates the heritage of the Convent with contemporary design and clinical requirements, creating a meaningful place for post-natal care in South East Queensland.
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Client:
Mater Misericordiae Ltd
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Traditional Custodians of the Land:
Turrbal people
Status:
Built, 2023
Contact Person:
Rebecca Moore
Awards
Australian Institute of Architects (QLD) Awards, Heritage Architecture Commendation, 2024
