Fender Katsalidis, an award-winning aged care designer, has been given the go-ahead to develop a $100 million aged care village in Brisbane’s Auchenflower. The development plans comprise 87 independent living apartments and 108 residential aged care units, with a focus on community and social connection aligned with Australian Unity’s ‘better together’ model.
Increased demand for aged care in Queensland, driven by the state’s ageing population, has led to the redesign of the previously approved plans. The new plans aim to maximise natural light and provide residents with amenities such as a small cafe, a hairdresser, a consultation room for medical practitioners, and a rehabilitation gym.
Fender Katsalidis Principal Jessica Lee said that the project demonstrated the firm’s commitment to providing human-centric design that enhances residents’ well-being holistically. The development’s design is contextualised within its local neighbourhood, providing a choice of quality accommodation that promotes well-being, belonging and community.
The development’s facade will feature a high-quality mineral paint finish on the concrete, with metal cladding used to create an illusion of a recessive shadow line. The lower planes will feature a tactile hand-cut brick to promote fine-grain materiality. The in-use Catholic Church on the site has been retained, providing residents with a sense of community.
Australian Unity’s General Manager of Places, Lorraine Calder, said that the company’s ongoing work with Fender Katsalidis was leading to higher standards of aged care in Australian cities. The company aims to improve the standard of Australian aged care and change the stigmas about ageing and older people more broadly.
Fender Katsalidis previously worked with Australian Unity on the award-winning retirement living project, The Grace, and is recognised for its human-centred design that provides a connection between place, community, and care, making it a necessity in the aged care sector. In Melbourne, the second stage of The Grace project, named The Alba, is slated for completion this month.
