The Kinghorn Cancer Centre
healing° / working°
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre is a unified research and treatment facility located in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Opened in 2012, the project was commissioned by The Garvan Institute and St Vincent's & Mater Health Sydney, with architecture by BVN.
Size: 2,450m2
Budget: $140,000,000
Scope: Concept Design, Development Approval, Detail Documentation, Construction
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre has been recognised with the following awards;
2013 AIA John Verge Award for Interior Design
2013 World Architecture Festival (WAF) High Commendation - Health
2013 Chicago Antheneum International Architecture Award
1. The Reflection Garden is located on level 6 (above left)
2. Subtle signage honours the benefactors of the healing garden (below left)
3. The roof garden provides three intimate private spaces (right)
Papyrus provides a filigree screen
The native groundcover - Chrysocephalum apiculatum
Water provides tactility, tranquility and passive cooling
A nurturing non-hospital setting that facilitates collaboration between scientists, clinicians and patients.
1. Timber’s enduring qualities are celebrated in detail (above left)
2. The planting palette is liberal with texture, colour and scent (below left)
3. Ligularia and catmint by the water (right)
The whimsical and delicate leaves of the River Birch
Preliminary rooftop concept sketch
The planting is informal and diverse
Water feature concept sketch
‘The landscape and architecture…together… bore none of the features traditionally associated with a hospital or research centre.’
- TKCC Acting Director, Prof. Allan Spigelman
1. Main entry on Victoria Street (above left)
2. A 24x12m trellis garden fronts Victoria Street (below left)
3. The Trellis Garden contains a suite of flowering climbers that provide respite for treatment rooms and practitioners offices (above)
Richard Long mural
Victoria Street Darlinghurst
Reflection Garden Plan
The rooftop landscape sits adjacent the heritage-listed Green Park Hotel
Landscape Site Plan
‘The garden is warm, inviting, and slightly wild.’
- Georgina Reid - ‘The Plant Hunter’
Design Statement
Inspired by research that found a link between access to nature and healing, the rooftop garden is designed to improve the wellbeing of the staff and patients.
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre (TKCC) is a new cancer research centre that combines Integrated Multi-disciplinary Cancer Care and Translational Cancer Research. The project comprises eight levels of specialist research laboratories, clinical consulting and analysis suites, high-level conferencing facilities, multi-disciplinary meeting rooms and general support spaces. The extensive internal facilities are strengthened by the transformation of Chaplin Lane, a twelve-metre vertical climbing garden and Reflection Garden on level six.
The gardens aim to enrich the patient experience and embody the value of healing through regeneration. Principles involving the human spirit and human comfort were important to the choice and expression of elements and materials throughout the project. Determining, for example that water is an element that makes people feel comforted, timber is a warm tactile material, and is inclusive yet distinct from the typical health institution. Equally the shape, volume and organisation of each landscape space are seen to contribute to a sense of wellbeing.
‘The results of our patient surveys since the Centre was opened in August 2012, show high levels of satisfaction with the Centre's landscaping, which melds very well with the award winning architecture. Together they fulfill the brief to provide a structure that bore none of the features traditionally associated with a hospital or research centre.’
- TKCC Acting Director, Professor Allan Spigelman
