The West Australian
The creation of excellence in retirement and aged-care living has been rewarded at the UDIA awards. Lisa Holland-McNair reports.
Four years ago Hames Sharley was set the task by Adventist Residential Care and NS Projects to create a $40 million, 10,000sqm retirement development in Rossmoyne.
In May, the vision became a reality as stage one of Australis at Rossmoyne was opened and residents were welcomed into their new homes.
It won the Seniors Living category of the UDIA Awards, with judges saying the design principles had set the subsequent stages of the development up for success.
“Comfort is the key word both within individual apartments as well as in the broader development, with happy residents providing evidence of the design working in practice,” the judges said.
“Importantly, financial options that work have led to the success of this project in the context of challenging market conditions.”
Hames Sharley project leader Gary Mackintosh said the design focused on creating big internal common spaces to provide residents with social connections within the village. It also connected them to the wider neighbourhood and surrounding natural environment.
Australis has 79 two-bedroom units and seven three-bedroom units over eight storeys, with associated car parking and communal facilities, including a Men’s Shed, lawn bowls and heated swimming pool, spa, sauna and gym.
“The success of this project stems from a wonderful client and architect relationship and as a practice, our core vision is to enable communities to flourish,” Mr Mackintosh said.
“The Australis project exemplifies this.”
This year Australis was recognised by the Master Builders’ Association at its annual Excellence in Construction Awards.