Wesley Mission Queensland

Located within the existing site of the Maroochydore Uniting Church, the project provides accessible housing for those with high physical support needs as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Each house offers 24-hour care in different provisions, either in a shared house or individual units. Both are designed with a different coastal theme that celebrates the Sunshine Coast, presenting a domestic and familiar appearance for residents to feel at home.

The residents participate in WMQ’s Stellar Arts program, which ranges in activities led by artists and musicians that stretch from singing and visual arts to yoga and magic.

The project achieved the Platinum Level Requirements of the Livable Housing Guidelines Australia, which is the highest level of accreditation related to universal design.

Elevated to overlook the leafy surrounds of Brisbane’s south-west suburb of Sinnamon Park, Rosemount Retirement Community is a staged development containing 135 apartments over two buildings. The buildings are connected by a central village green, which is activated by the integration of community facilities, including a gymnasium, heated swimming pool, BBQ pavilion, cinema, café, library, function room and community garden.

The site is zoned medium density residential with a 1-2 storey height expectation. BM_’s investigation and advocacy during the design process achieved approval for a staged development up to seven storeys in height.

The majority of apartments and the community spaces take advantage of a northerly aspect and the community is well connected to high care facilities on the remainder of the site. This allows residents to stay connected within the integrated campus and age in place. Working closely with Wesley Mission, budget constraints informed by the feasibility analysis were met and lessons learnt from previous projects were implemented.

An inactive space on a busy corner became the location of a dementia-specific memory support home. In a collaboration with industry experts from The Dementia Centre, the design features two conjoined cottages of eight single bedrooms and ensuites.

The inverted floor plan responds to the busy intersection, and internal courtyards bring natural light into the living areas. A north-facing terrace features a herb garden and provides separation from existing buildings. Domestic features and decor throughout help calm and comfort residents in communal spaces, with curated artwork promoting a good sense of wayfinding.

Anam Cara is the first aged care home in Queensland (and second nationwide) to be awarded full “Eden”, espousing the internationally-recognised Eden Alternative Philosophy of Care.

“The Eden Alternative is about life, variety and spontaneity… You get that from committing along a path to improving the quality of the living environment for residents and assisting them to live their lives… There is an ambience at Anam Cara, a manner of staff and the looks on people’s faces that you don’t see at other homes.”

Cathy Meyer, chair of Eden Alternative in Oz & NZ.
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The master-planned community integrates with both the existing Wheller Gardens aged care facility and the broader community. The community now contains over 350 apartments in buildings up to seven storeys high, 30 single level villas and also features a leisure centre with all community facilities.

“They have undertaken thoughtful leadership and engagement processes with our internal staff and stakeholders to explore the myriad of issues that have delivered an agreed design direction. Bickerton Masters has provided access to their senior partners and the architects who have undertaken the detailed planning for the above development.”

Geoff Batkin, former CEO of WMQ.