Dual Purpose Centre
Carnarvon Hospital
Flexibly designed to be a welcoming counselling facility by day, and a safe recovery environment by night
This project was about designing a space for vulnerable individuals to receive the support they need.
However, needs vary, so through practical design we were able to find a balance that addresses safety, care, and mental health concerns for all patients, whether they need assistance for an hour, an overnight or long-term into the future.
Client
Department of Housing, on behalf of the Drug and Alcohol Office
Location
Carnarvon, WA
Construction Value
$3.3m
Completed
2014
Carabiner Team
Project Director: David Karotkin
Other key staff: Alita Ngo
Carabiner were engaged to design and deliver the new centre within the existing Carnarvon Health Campus. The project brief required a highly versatile building with shared central community facilities, and a design that supports staff to manage behavioural risks and separate clients where necessary.
During the day, the counselling facility is operated by Midwest Community Drug Service Team. At night it converts into a Sober-Up Accommodation Centre operated by the DAO and functions as a ‘drop-in centre’, allowing people to receive treatment or sleep-off the effects of drug and alcohol use. This facility presents a unique integration of the two services, positioning the project as a valuable community asset. Additionally, we designed the shared communal space flexibly so that it can also be leased to the public for community functions, further maximising the use and value of the space.
The Sober-Up and counselling spaces share amenities including toilets, showers, kitchens and dining areas for operational efficiency. We also provided separate entries at opposite ends of the centre to help delineate one service from another and aid traffic flow.