New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 35/02C | Page 94

MARKET SECTOR REPORT
SENIOR LIVING
CREATING CONNECTIONS
Senior principal Emma Todd and associate partner Morné Hugo discuss how
establishing pathways for interaction is central to Boffa Miskell’s approach to
masterplanning and landscape design in today’s senior living communities
With life expectancy continuing to rise, and
evolving views on what life after retirement looks like,
it’s no wonder that today’s aged-care residences are
a far cry from those of twenty, or even ten, years ago.
In fact, terms like ‘aged-care residence’ and master-planned senior living communities and
large-scale residential developments throughout
the country. These days, developers are embracing
a more holistic way of thinking around what senior
living looks like.
‘retirement village’ are eschewed by residents and
master-planners alike. The preferred phrase is
‘senior living’ – reflecting that, while these residen-
tial enclaves may be designed for the over-65 set,
they’re no longer a place for them to sit quietly out
of the way and wait for the inevitable.
Over the past three decades, urban designers
and landscape architects at Boffa Miskell have The three key drivers for masterplanning a
residential development are: creating a community,
establishing a place, and designing for use. Those
factors are always there – although how they are
implemented varies from project to project.
Our design team is particularly inspired by the
Māori philosophies of Hauora (well-being, complete
health), Hononga (establishing connections and
search | save | share at