The 2024 Australian Health Design Council (AHDC) Research Scholarship assessment panel, chaired by Morag Lee, Warren Kerr, and Harm Hollander, is pleased to award the scholarship to Chloe Piper.

Chloe Piper stood out among the candidates through a comparative analysis of all applications, which were of a high quality. Her application was distinguished by exemplary endorsements from her supervisor, a high standard of methodological detail, and robust architectural supervision. Her research aligns with AHDC’s goal of facility design-based research, with a choice of study area that is both relevant and innovative.

Chloe Piper, a PhD candidate at Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, graduated from Deakin University with a Master of Architecture in 2011. Her professional experience spans prominent architectural firms in Melbourne, London, and Chile, covering a range of projects including cultural, educational, healthcare, office, residential, and mixed-use developments.

Her thesis, titled ‘Architecture of Compassion,’ focuses on designing healthcare environments for trauma. This research addresses the gap in trauma-informed building design, acknowledging the influence of physical environments on health outcomes. Chloe’s work explores how scientific findings related to wellbeing can inform the design of sensitive and responsive architectural spaces for individuals recovering from trauma. Her research contributes to the development of a holistic, healing-centred paradigm in architectural design.

On behalf of the AHDC, we congratulate Chloe Piper on this achievement and are pleased to announce that she will be presenting an update on her research at the National Conference held in Sydney in November.

About the Scholarship: https://www.aushdc.org.au/research-scholarship