As part of the program, the 15th China–International Hospital Architecture Design Summit brought together global perspectives on emerging healthcare environments. With the support of Trade and Investment Queensland, Woods Bagot was invited to contribute, with Director Jean Weng presenting Biophilic Design and Net-Zero Healthcare in Australia.

Nature as Infrastructure

Adelaide New Women’s & Children’s Hospital

The design for the Adelaide New Women’s & Children’s Hospital is shaped by its relationship to surrounding parklands and the broader biomedical precinct, strengthening connections between healthcare infrastructure, the city and the landscape.

Led by Woods Bagot as part of a multidisciplinary team, the project delivers a nine-storey hospital with 414 overnight beds—bringing together services for women, children and young people within a single, integrated environment.

Rather than treating nature as an overlay, the design integrates access to daylight, views to green spaces, and shared environments that support orientation, reduce stress and enhance the experience of patients, families and staff.

A clear functional framework and vertical organisation support complex clinical operations, improving legibility and efficiency across the hospital while maintaining a strong focus on patient- and family-centred care.

Sustainability is embedded at a systems level. As South Australia’s first fully electric public hospital, the project combines passive design strategies with high-performance building systems to reduce operational energy use and support long-term environmental performance.

Integrated and High-Performance Care

Sun Yat-sen University Affiliated Dental Hospital, Guangzhou

In Guangzhou, the Sun Yat-sen University Affiliated Dental Hospital responds to the demands of a dense, specialist healthcare environment. Designed in collaboration with the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Guangdong Province (GDAD), the 94,000 sqm facility brings together clinical care, research and teaching within a single integrated platform.

An L-shaped configuration organises program elements into a clear and efficient system, supported by vertical cores and elevated connections. Within this compact framework, daylight, sky gardens and landscape elements are introduced to improve spatial quality and user experience—balancing operational intensity with a more human-centred environment.

Across both projects, a consistent approach emerges—integrating spatial planning, environmental performance and human experience into a cohesive system.

Looking ahead, healthcare design is increasingly shaped by research-led methodologies, the integration of nature, culture and technology, and measurable pathways towards net-zero outcomes. Biophilic design plays a critical role in embedding natural systems into healthcare environments—enhancing patient wellbeing while contributing to long-term sustainability goals.

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Shirley Hao
Content and Communications Leader (China)