Barwon Health North

Verosol roller blinds the perfect match for state-of-the-art healthcare hub Built to serve Geelong’s growing northern suburbs, Barwon Health North is a state-of-the-art medical hub that provides a range of services including a walk-in urgent care centre, medical imaging facilities, child and family services, renal dialysis, pathology, and specialty clinics. Opened in early 2020 and designed by multidisciplinary Australian practice BLP, the facility was conceived as a space in which a new model of care – one that emphasises community and personal autonomy, as well as patient security – could flourish. Located alongside the local library, a community hall and the Waterworld Leisure Centre, the now complete Barwon Health North is welcoming, friendly, and safe. The architects have successfully avoided things like physical barriers and long service queues – features that are all too readily associated with medical centres, and inevitably turn them into places to avoid. Instead, the focus is on maximising patient comfort and helping people feel at ease. At the Hub’s entrance, visitors are met with a feature red brick entry canopy that directs them to check-in kiosks; there is a series of compartmentalised waiting areas with casually scattered armchairs; and the foyer is decked with warm timber surfaces. Specified at Barwon Health North, Verosol Ambience Twin Roller Blinds are delivering good looks, privacy, and glare control, along with sustainability and low energy bills. Verosol Window Coverings Continuing the theme, double height glazing from the waiting area opens to the exterior public space, welcoming all with open arms, while bursts of colour maximise natural light and views to the streetscape.  To regulate the light – and ensure that patients and staff don’t get too much of a good thing – the architects fixed upon the idea of incorporating high quality window coverings into their design. To do so, they sought assistance from Verosol, a supplier with which they already had a strong relationship.  Specifically, they chose Verosol Ambience Twin Roller Blinds, in both manual and motorised models. Suitable for both commercial and residential applications, this versatile system incorporates two separate roller blinds together within a single bracket. As such, it is suitable for use at all times of the day or night.  For the Barwon Health North project, a blind made from a semi-transparent screen fabric (Verosol 231 Veroscreen G3) is positioned close to the glazing with a block out blind (of Verosol 712 Trezzini) as the front layer.  A premium fade resistant and flame retardant fabric, which is constructed from a fine 2x1 weave and therefore delicate to the touch, Verosol 231 Veroscreen G3 controls glare and minimises heat gain, without cutting the space off from the outside world. Patients and staff retain all of this along with a subtle privacy from those looking in.  Meanwhile, the Verosol 712 Trezzini fabric facing into the room with its stunning three-dimensional jacquard woven feel and appearance, delivers maximum room darkening and total privacy. Importantly in a healthcare setting, both fabrics are durable, and easy to clean. Incorporated together in one system and mounted within a single bracket, they deliver just the right mix of aesthetic appeal and reliable operation. Contributing to Sustainability Verosol Ambience Twin Roller Blinds also help ensure that Barwon Health North meets its regulatory requirements in terms of energy efficiency. This is important because as much as 30 per cent of heating energy is lost through windows and 76 per cent of sunlight that falls on standard double pane windows enters buildings to become heat. For this reason, all non-residential commercial buildings in Australia must adhere to energy efficiency requirements as set out in the National Construction Code (NCC 2019). In calculating thermal efficiency, these regulations include walling and windows (including window coverings) together as part of the total façade. This means that effective window coverings have a significant role in improving thermal efficiency and ensuring commercial buildings meet their regulatory requirements. And this is exactly what Verosol Ambience Twin Roller Blinds achieve at Barwon Health North. They cut glare, minimise thermal heat gain, ensure the privacy  for patients and staff, and maintain views to the outside world. And they do all of this while also cutting energy costs, minimising waste, and ensuring the facility is ready to play its part in our sustainable, low carbon future. LOCATION:  North Geelong, Melbourne Australia ARCHITECT:  Billard Leece Partnership / Builder: Kane Constructions WINDOW COVERINGS:  Manual and Motorised Twin Roller Blinds by Verosol –  Featured Fabrics: 231 Veroscreen and 712 Trezzini Blockout –  Sector: Health Photography: