Gray Puksand’s recent appointment of Aurelia Gachet reflects our goal of becoming one of the leading design studios for healthcare organisations across Australia. With more than ten years of experience in the health and science sector, Aurelia is excited to bring to her expertise to the growing health and science team and work alongside incredible architects and designers. We recently sat down with her to learn more about her career path, her role at Gray Puksand and her thoughts on the sector.
You have a decade of health and science experience across multiple countries – can you briefly explain your career path to date?
I moved to Melbourne 18 years ago from France, drawn to the city’s potential to be a new Australasian pole of influence in the built environment.
After earning both my Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees at RMIT here in Melbourne, I worked for small practices in the single residential sector before shifting my focus to healthcare.
Since changing sectors, I have collaborated on a range of renowned healthcare buildings. My favourite achievement to date was spending four years delivering the Cabrini Health Gandel Wing. Vogue Australia described it as “the world’s most beautiful hospital”, marking it as a major career milestone – one I’m so incredibly proud of.
What aspects of the health and science sector are appealing and motivating to you?
Buildings play a critical role in enhancing people’s overall well-being. It’s critical that every building I contribute to prioritises the health and happiness of its occupants.
I’m passionate about creating spaces that are calming and uplifting. It’s extremely satisfying to know that by designing a hospital, I can actively improve patients’ recovery and healing journeys.
What are your primary responsibilities in this role, and can you describe your experience at Gray Puksand so far?
As an Associate, I lead the delivery of our health and science projects which includes ongoing communication with clients, team members and collaborators. I also manage deadlines, budgets, and resources to ensure the design process runs smoothly from construction to completion. Another key focus is planning and executing strategies. This really interests me as it makes a huge difference in whether a project is commercially viable or not.
With so much potential for career progression, I’m excited to continue working in Gray Puksand’s emerging health and science sector. Collaborating with Quentin Seik, Greg Wines and Robert Puksand is a pleasure as they bring a sense of calm and grounding to the process. Working with such talent creates a monumental opportunity to learn and grow as a designer, which excites me greatly.
What projects are you currently delivering?
We’re progressing a diverse range of projects for Melbourne-based organisations including Northern Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Peter McCallum Cancer Centre.
The scope of each project varies, and all present a degree of technical challenges and complexities which we find different ways to overcome. We’ve been tasked with everything from designing anatomic pathology labs, MRIs, and PET scanners to operating theatres, endoscopy suites, and emergency departments. Each project is so unique!
What does the future of the health and science sector look like?
The future is exciting! With recent findings from the Royal Commission post-Covid, we’ve been given the opportunity to question all aspects of existing healthcare models, including mental health and aged-care facilities.
Thanks to a strong team of skilled, experienced, and passionate designers, Gray Puksand’s health and science sector is positioned to deliver impactful results for our healthcare clients.
