Wellness architecture is the principal of designing buildings and spaces with a focus on the impact they have on the wellbeing of the people that live, work or study in them. It’s not a passing fad, but rather a foundational principle almost as old as architecture itself. With the prevalence of mental health challenges, particularly among young people, the demand for wellness architecture in our spaces has only increased. When Ivanhoe Boys Grammar School engaged Melbourne-based architecture firm Mclldowie Partners to design a sports and aquatic centre, all were in agreement: wellness principals would underpin all design decision-making.
The International Well Building Standard considers attributes of buildings that impact occupants' health by measuring seven factors including air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. One of the challenges the Mclldowie architecture team considered was the maintenance and cleaning regime of surfaces that impact on air quality. Biological pollutants such as bacteria will very quickly become rampant in the humid environment common to a pool area. Inadequate cleaning methods or frequencies can reduce air quality and be detrimental to health. The Mclldowie team, which was eager to uphold wellness principals, selected Agrob Buchtal ceramic tiles because of the unique Hytect easy-clean antibacterial technology treatment offered in each tile.
The pool concourse and changerooms required a tile with a high slip rating. In this scenerio, safety will typically come at the price of surface cleanability: a smooth, easy-to-clean tile is also the most slippery (for more information on slip ratings, you can download the Slip Rating Specification Guide from the Technical resources section of Klay's website). The Hytect coating on the tiles means there was no compromise on cleanability, ensuring that the facility will maintain high air quality now and in 10 years’ time. You can find more information on Hytect on Klay's website.
To satisfy the design requirements, McIldowie Partners chose Agrob Buchtal’s Trias series in colour Calcite White, available in an R10 and R11 rating and as large format and mosaic tiles. Mosaic tiles were used extensively as novel wall finishes. Within the change room spaces, McIldowie Partners chose Agrob Buchtal Plural 100 mm × 100 mm wall tiles in calming green and white tones.
Ivanhoe Grammar Sports and Aqautic Centre project was shortlisted for the education category of the 2023 Victorian Architecture Awards.
