Healing Art Shapes Gold Coast Mental Health Hub
Art-integrated wall protection supports healing at Gold Coast’s secure mental health unit.
The Gold Coast Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit in Australia is redefining the future of mental healthcare through a thoughtful blend of safety, design, and healing-focused environments. Designed by ARCH and built by BESIX Watpac as an extension of the Gold Coast University Hospital campus, the $122,744 million (AUD) facility delivers a modern, recovery-oriented approach for patients experiencing severe and complex mental health disorders.
The two-level, 40-bed unit was designed to feel more like a home than a hospital. Its extensive amenities include multiple communal spaces, family visiting rooms, sensory rooms, assessment rooms, therapy areas, gyms, and Activities of Daily Living kitchens. Every aspect of the facility was carefully planned to support recovery, comfort, and well-being.
Creating a secure mental health environment requires balancing strict healthcare and safety standards with a calming and welcoming atmosphere. A key part of achieving this vision was incorporating artwork that aligned with the CHIME framework for healing art — Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, and Empowerment.
To bring this vision to life, ARCH specified Acrovyn By Design wall protection from Construction Specialties. The system provides impact- and scratch-resistant wall protection while allowing custom artwork to be printed directly onto the durable surfaces. This solution enabled the facility to integrate meaningful visual elements without compromising patient safety or long-term durability.
Gold Coast Health’s Creative Health Hub collaborated with emerging and established artists to create nature-inspired works that promote healing and emotional connection. Emerging artists participated through the Queensland College of Art and Design’s Liveworm Studio internship program, while established artists were selected through a competitive expression of interest process focused on local connection and lived experience.
Artists including Zoe Kleopa-Mircev, Holly Bryant, Elke Gill, Melony Gordon, and psychologist-photographer Lucas Ford contributed pieces inspired by nature, balance, resilience, and renewal. From vibrant dreamscapes to calming landscape photography, the artworks were reproduced across more than 60 Acrovyn By Design panels installed as seamless murals throughout the facility.
The result is a secure mental health rehabilitation unit that combines robust performance with compassionate design, creating an environment where art, architecture, and healthcare work together to support recovery and well-being.
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