THE ARCHITECTURE OF STEPHENSON & TURNER
For Health & Prosperity
Birth of a Practice
A Revolution for Health
Simplicity & Scale
Promise & Prosperity
On the World Stage
Australian Colossus
A Spirit of Progress
The Getting of Wisdom
Keith Murdoch Gallery
Friday 12 March -
Sunday 6 June 2004
Exhibition details
Book details
A
REVOLUTION FOR HEALTH
Confident first steps in the architecture of health by Stephenson & Meldrum included designs for the Austin Hospital (c.1928) and the Jessie McPherson Community Hospital (1928-31).
From the early 1930s, the firm revolutionised hospital planning and design through the development of a truly modern hospital type for an Australian context. Two overseas study tours by Arthur Stephenson in 1927 and 1932-33 generated these profound changes, and the later architectural works of this period reveal the startling impact and redirection in the design philosophy of the firm. For the first time, hospital planning reorganised and centralised core internal services and functions, and embraced new technology. For example, Stephenson & Meldrum's hospitals were among the first to introduce the use of artificial light in operating theatres and fully modern kitchen and laundry facilities.
Recuperative influences of sun and open air were captured through the development of semi-enclosed wards and north-facing balconies, as informed by the 'Open-air movement' and the architecture of key European hospitals such as Alvar Aalto's famed Paimio sanatorium. Design form was based strictly on these functional requirements, characterised by a composition of strong, streamlined horizontal lines, sweeping curves and complementary vertical lines.
Modernism had arrived, and the architecture of health had become the firm's speciality. Their revolutions in design are most evident in the Mercy Hospital (1934) and the Freemason's Hospital (1936) in Melbourne, and in the United Dental Hospital (1936-40) and King George V Memorial Hospital for Mothers and Babies in Sydney (1939-41).
Confident first steps in the architecture of health by Stephenson & Meldrum included designs for the Austin Hospital (c.1928) and the Jessie McPherson Community Hospital (1928-31).
From the early 1930s, the firm revolutionised hospital planning and design through the development of a truly modern hospital type for an Australian context. Two overseas study tours by Arthur Stephenson in 1927 and 1932-33 generated these profound changes, and the later architectural works of this period reveal the startling impact and redirection in the design philosophy of the firm. For the first time, hospital planning reorganised and centralised core internal services and functions, and embraced new technology. For example, Stephenson & Meldrum's hospitals were among the first to introduce the use of artificial light in operating theatres and fully modern kitchen and laundry facilities.
Recuperative influences of sun and open air were captured through the development of semi-enclosed wards and north-facing balconies, as informed by the 'Open-air movement' and the architecture of key European hospitals such as Alvar Aalto's famed Paimio sanatorium. Design form was based strictly on these functional requirements, characterised by a composition of strong, streamlined horizontal lines, sweeping curves and complementary vertical lines.
Modernism had arrived, and the architecture of health had become the firm's speciality. Their revolutions in design are most evident in the Mercy Hospital (1934) and the Freemason's Hospital (1936) in Melbourne, and in the United Dental Hospital (1936-40) and King George V Memorial Hospital for Mothers and Babies in Sydney (1939-41).
