Victorian Heart Hospital
The Victorian Heart Hospital is Australia’s first hospital dedicated solely to cardiac care.
Located in the Clayton campus of Monash University, the Victorian Heart Hospital is a people-centric facility where patients are accessing the world’s best cardiac care. The design takes cues from the tree-lined university campus to reveal a modern, cutting-edge facility that links closely with nature and the surrounding landscape to create a calm, healing environment.
Using the principles of biophilic design, VHH connects patients to nature with access to views of the significant landscape surrounds of the Monash University campus. Natural light permeates throughout the building, with the open central courtyard providing a heavily landscaped space for viewing and occupying. Its footprint weaves through the building, providing the visual relief of nature – its colour, patterns and textures – to many areas of the hospital.
Strong vertical linkages between research and clinical levels encourage the cross fertilisation between Monash Health and its own research programs with Monash University. The use of warm, timber materials and plenty of natural light aim to create a welcoming healing environment dissimilar to the traditional sterile environment of hospitals.
By creating an approachable environment for all users, the hospital has become a valuable place within the context of the university campus and the wider community.
- Traditional Custodians Bunurong/Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation
- Location Clayton VIC
- Client Victorian Health Building Authority
- Stakeholders Monash Health, Monash University, Victorian Heart Institute, Monash CardiovasculMonash Health, Monash University, Victorian Heart Institute, Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre and Monash Health’s Training, Education and Research programs
- Collaborators Joint venture with Conrad Gargett
- Key staff Meaghan Dwyer, John Wardle, James Loder, Yee Jien, Jeff Arnold, Kristina LevenkoMeaghan Dwyer, John Wardle, James Loder, Yee Jien, Jeff Arnold, Kristina Levenko, Mitchell Walker
- Procurement Managing contractor
- Year 2018–2022
- Levels 7 floors + 3 basement levels
- Floor area 69,764m2
- Selected awards
- Best Public Building, Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall InnoBest Public Building, Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards, 2024
- Australian Development of the Year, Property Council of Australia / Rider LevettAustralian Development of the Year, Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards, 2024
- Health—completed buildings category, World Architecture Festival, 2023

An open central courtyard provides a heavily landscaped space for viewing and occupying.













