Discreet Wellness – Stafford Vet Hospital by Vokes and Peters

Deliberately unidentifiable from approach, Stafford Vet Hospital gives little away as to its function and inner workings. Resembling a civic building privately cloaked in an opaque sleeve, the building reflects the priorities of the clinic as a place that values wellness, professionalism, and discretion.

The welfare of the animals and the need to create a space of quiet calm for both the patients and their owners were the drivers behind the design. Far from the chaos of a traditional vet clinic, the integration of the landscape, courtyards and access to natural light seems to let the spaces breathe and creates a soothing atmosphere in the process. Using a series of robust and hardwearing materials, Stafford Vet Hospital is full of unexpected moments – from the refined to the restrained approach and high level of detail used throughout.

In a space that is warmer than the traditional medical environment, and one that is far more elevated than a neighbourhood vet clinic, the clean and reductionist palette serves the greater purpose well.

The entire building has a clear connection to practicality at the forefront of its design, with a focus on the spaces being able to handle the knocks of everyday animal visits and treatments. In a space that is warmer than the traditional medical environment, and one that is far more elevated than a neighbourhood vet clinic, the clean and reductionist palette serves the greater purpose well. Like humans, animals also respond to their environments, and creating spaces that relax and reassure that their needs will be met in a professional manner has a compounding positive effect.

With the clinic located in one of Brisbane’s light industrial zones, the selection of finishes is a response with a respectful nod to the existing context, executed with precision. The band-ed cladding breaks up the building horizontally through a series of panels with an opaque metal cladding. Allowing light both in and out, the screening reduces the exterior wall thickness, creating more space for the interior volumes.

Using a series of robust and hardwearing materials, Stafford Vet Hospital is full of unexpected moments.

As a hospital that is occupied 24 hours a day, there was a need to balance privacy and protection for those being treated inside, with an aesthetic that was consistent with the surroundings. By taking the visual cues that exist in the area and using these in a more precise way, the building is an appropriate insertion while also serving a significant purpose. Together with the metal sheeting, corrugated fibreglass adds to the separation from private and public spaces, so it feels contained in a linear approach through the site.

In aligning with architecture’s purpose to facilitate and enhance the everyday, Stafford Vet Hospital challenges the traditional treatment within a veterinary clinic. Vokes and Peters has created a restful retreat that is underpinned by a sense of ease and professionalism, punctuated with natural elements to connect with the outside world.