Health as a Place’s Competitive Advantage
New research from Okana and Future Places Studio shifts the narrative from crisis response to proactive opportunity. It explores how hospital design, AI and data, anchor institutions, community diagnostic hubs, and placemaking strategies can empower built environment professionals to lead the creation of healthier, more equitable places.
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Jack Sallabank
Partner Council
Katie Mulkowsky
Partner Council
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October 13, 2025
A global health shift is happening, moving from illness focussed care models towards preventative approaches that put wellbeing at the heart of everyday life. This report showcases bold ideas, hospitals designed as wellness hubs, high streets transformed into health centres, and neighbourhoods built for active travel and social connection. These case studies reveal how health can drive regeneration, resilience, and social equity.
Hospitals, reimagined
Leading hospital designs go beyond function. By integrating natural light, biophilia and flexible layouts, they support healing and staff wellbeing while reducing operational costs. Digital tools and data driven technologies extend care beyond hospital walls, improving lives and sustainability at scale. Meanwhile, community diagnostic centres are quietly reshaping access to care by bringing it closer to where people live and work. These interventions thrive when paired with quality public spaces, climate responsive design, and codesigned planning processes that put community voices at the centre.
Explore the five themes
This report’s five themes and accompanying 10 Step Toolkit for Designing Health Into Places translate our learnings into action, leveraging health as a critical built environment asset rather than a challenge to meet.
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1
People centric hospitals
Case study: Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary -
2
Data and AI as enabler
Case study: The New Surrey Hospital and BC
Cancer Centre -
3
Health as anchor
Case study: London Cancer Hub Activation Strategy -
4
Healthcare where we go
Case study: Queen Elizabeth Community
Diagnostic Centre -
5
Improving the everyday
Case study: Swimmable Birrarung Yarra River
10 Step Toolkit for Designing Health Into Places
Together, the report and toolkit form a blueprint for a health centred built environment that tackles inequality and climate risk while strengthening the social and economic fabric of places.
