Protected: Mparntwe Health Hub

THE MADERIGHT WAY

Inspire with quality

Designing with Country was embedded throughout the project, not as a symbolic gesture, but as an active process of consultation, collaboration and spatial decision-making. Working closely with Congress staff, cultural advisors and local stakeholders, SD+A Architecture created a healthcare environment that prioritises cultural safety, accessibility and dignity. 

Rather than commissioning a single artist, the project embraced a collaborative cultural design process led by Congress cultural advisors. Working alongside Sue Dugdale and Alana Brown, the team developed an integrated façade artwork featuring themes of protection, hunting and shelter for men, alongside bush foods, bush medicines, caring for babies and smoking ceremonies for women. These stories were unified through a continuous line drawing applied to the Sheraton Series® screens. The result is a façade that reflects collective cultural values while reinforcing healing, identity and connection to Country. 

THE MADERIGHT WAY

Engineer with expertise

Louvreclad collaborated closely with SD+A Architecture to develop integrated louvre and sun shading systems supporting passive cooling, ventilation, and long-term durability in a high-use healthcare environment.  Sheraton Series® elliptical feature blades provide vertical solar screening and contribute to the building’s architectural identity, with applied artwork representing women’s and men’s healing modalities. Mirage Series® Swaged Louvres were installed inverted for rooftop plant screening and airflow to the western entry façade. Oxford Series® 150mm elliptical louvres form pergola shading across courtyard areas, while Windsor Series® 91mm elliptical louvres deliver solar control across key elevations.  

THE MADERIGHT WAY

Implement with surety

Delivering large-scale projects in remote Australia presents unique logistical and environmental challenges. The Mparntwe Health Hub demonstrated how early collaboration between architect, contractor, specialist façade contractor and community stakeholders can achieve high architectural and sustainability outcomes while streamlining project delivery. Michael Liddle, CAAC Male Cultural Lead at Alice Springs Town Council and Congress Health Hub, reflected on the importance of the shaded spaces created throughout the project, noting how pleased he was that the louvres provide “a cool shady place for people to come to.” He described these types of spaces as essential for rest, calmness and healing within the community.