Residential Eating Disorders Centre, Charlestown

The NSW Government opened its landmark Charlestown Residential Eating Disorders Centre earlier this year (2025). The first publicly-funded service of its kind in NSW, the centre, named Baiyangbaiyaang, an Aboriginal name meaning ‘Butterfly – the one who flutters’ – it’s a 12-bed facility catering for people with eating disorders aged 16+. 

Aimed at bridging the gap between community-based care and hospital admission, the centre will provide specialist, evidence-based programmes in a nurturing, home-like environment.

EJE Architecture, in collaboration with Jodie Dixon Architect, led the deeply considered design process, shaping the facility to offer a new level of therapeutic recovery and emotional wellbeing for its residents.

Residential stays at the facility, of up to three months, involve a wide programme of therapies in a centre whose carefully crafted interiors provide a calming, nurturing environment, designed to support and heal residents in a comfortable, homelike environment. 

While the centre includes 12 resident rooms, there is also a selection of lounge rooms and quiet nooks, together with yoga and group therapy spaces, dining, kitchen and welcome room. One of the most integral spaces to the entire healing process, according to Jodie Duddington, senior interior designer at EJE, is the kitchen. 

 “The kitchen”, says Jodie, “is the area where residents go to relearn and heal, yet it can also be a triggering experience for some.”

The palette of materials used throughout the centre are calming, textural and restorative – with a beautifully layered mix of natural timbers, warm whites and earthy neutrals, lots of natural light and generous expanses of glass connecting to the outdoors.

Jodie believes the vast kitchen island benchtop is the most important benchtop in the entire project.  It’s the hub of the learning experience for residents. Caesarstone^® Porcelain™ Aluminous was selected due to its aesthetics as well as its exceptional heat resistance, durability and UV stability (it will never fade).

“There were many things to like about Caesarstone^® Porcelain™.  Its composition of natural materials, its durability, and its wide colour choice.  The slight texture of Aluminous was perfect for Baiyangbaiyaang – and we were also able to install induction cooking technology immediately beneath the porcelain surface.  When not cooking on the porcelain surface, that same area becomes a work space”, said Jodie.

Featured in Australia byDesign Season 7, Episode 4. Watch full episode here