Headspace Lake Haven

Place Design Group was engaged to manage and deliver the concept design through to construction services for Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Headspace.

The centre’s and services operate nationally in metro, regional and rural areas to support young Australians to be mentally healthy and engaged in their community. As a significant mental health service, funding is acknowledged at a national level by The Australian Government Department of Health.

Headspace recognises the importance of community care and skilled guidance, whilst offering thousands of young Australians clinical professional support services as well as education to build the mental health needs.

Our concept brief was to expand the capacity and functionality of the existing internal footprint and facilities of Lake havens Headspace, by creating multiple, separate external areas designed for both private meetings as well as congregation spaces that promote social connections and relationship building. The spaces are designed with its core youthful clientele at the heart, providing opportunities for multiple groups to congregate in safe and inclusive environments.

The intention was to create less activity based and more passive, relaxing and therapeutic external spaces which are calming and flexible to promote positive mental health and well-being. We achieved this through sensory stimulation to heighten awareness of interactions with nature.

The modifications resulted in extending the indoor facilities whilst moving conversations outside to the natural environment, with seamless integration.

To celebrate Darkinjung culture, our design centred around engagement of Darkinjung people and inclusion of Darkinjung art and design. Yarning circles were woven into the overarching design, as well as storytelling through artworks that were accented throughout the consultation spaces. We introduced a sympathetic colour palette and planting inspired by our first nations.