Design Matters: luxury wellbeing, apartment style

Designed by Billard Leece Partnership for Baptcare and completed in 2021, the 7500 m² Baptcare Strathalan Integrated Community redevelopment offers luxury retirement living in an apartment complex in the Melbourne suburb of Macleod, Victoria — designed to facilitate an active and joyful ageing journey. “We design spaces that promote social, physical and mental wellbeing,” Mark Mitchell, Principal/Health Sector Lead, Billard Leece Partnership said.

“Access to natural light and ventilation is vital, so there are views to surrounding nature and lots of lovely, landscaped areas to bring the outside in,” Mitchell added. “Security is also high priority, so residents feel safe and secure in their environment. And the ability to be able to lock up and leave if they choose to.”

Intended to allow residents to age in place and seek access to services if and when they require them, the community centre is at the heart of the site — located on the ground floor of the apartment building. The building also includes a commercial kitchen to facilitate a fully functioning café and à la carte restaurant, club lounge, billiards area, resident bar and men’s den. There are also resort-style facilities, including a gym, beauty and hair salon, private dining, library and an enclosed winter garden to sit and enjoy a meal.

A mix of one-bedroom-plus-study, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, the redevelopment consists of 37 units; a key briefing requirement being to ensure that the apartments were provided with as much storage as possible, as most residents tend to be downsizing from larger family homes. “It’s about collective wellbeing, with residents coming together and having those opportunities to socialise in a space that’s just theirs,” Mitchell said. “This community helps them achieve that.”

Heritage at the site is respected, with the homestead — dating from 1945 — transformed into a wellness hub for visiting health practitioners, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists. An aged care facility for residents who may need further care and support in the future is also co-located, with a communal vegetable garden, outdoor barbecue area and outdoor seniors exercise gym/playground built adjacent to the homestead.

This design was shortlisted for Project of the Year Ageing in Place in the 9th Eldercare Health + Innovation Awards.

Images: ©Christine Francis and courtesy Billard Leece Partnership