Croft Architects, in collaboration with 2nd State Design (Landscape Architect), participated in the Australian Government’s Reimagining where we live design competition focusing on creating a new vision for the future of Aged Care facilities. A Royal Commission into the Aged Care sector was undertaken by the Government, in which a design competition was recommended to provide a vision for better future of design and operation of these facilities. The competition brief required a design response in a hypothetical urban site to house 100 residents.

As part of our submission, we envisioned a building that promotes wellness, wisdom and that aging is a part of being human. Expressed timber structure, metal panel cladding that patina and change beautifully over time and window. Planter boxes integrated into the facade give the residents choice and ownership, while exhibiting this building is ‘living’ and a caring, healing environment.

To respond to an adjacent multi-residential building in the brief, we proposed a small community plaza placed at the corner of the site, activating and enhancing its connection and interaction with adjacent residential building and residents nearby, as well as creating a small hub for the wider community and for visitors of the precinct. Locating the aged care facility multi-function room adjacent creates a visual and physical connection to the public space. The design of the public space contained sleeved mixed-use commercial spaces to present co-locating opportunities for creating community ties and economic and social development benefits.