New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 35/02C | Page 95

These pages Boffa Miskell
senior principal Emma Todd
and associate partner Morné
Hugo provide an informed
perspective on the key drivers
for masterplanning senior
living residential developments
– as seen in The Poynton on
Auckland’s North Shore (left) and
Rawhiti Estates, Remuera (right).
relationships), and Whakapapa (place and heritage);
and how we can translate these ideas into the
design of senior living communities.
Creating a community is more than simply build-
ing houses; it’s about building connections and
encouraging engagement. To provide a physical
framework in which a senior living community can
thrive, there should be a recognisable centre and
multiple spaces for residents to interact through a
range of activities.
Careful consideration will put in place a hierarchy
of streets – from main through-routes to cul-de-sacs
or lanes – that are legible and walkable, and create a
chain of connected spaces with a social heart.
How we design these connected spaces –
though planting, seating, lighting, and the public
frontages of the buildings – is what provides a
distinctive and recognisable identity to the village
that encourages residents to take ownership of
their living environment and surroundings.
Shared gardens, a café, open spaces for
special events like a farmers’ market, and on-site
playgrounds are among the most sought-after
amenities. These features are seen to have a
positive impact in retaining inter-generational
connections, while also providing a legible ‘village
green’ social centre that encourages residents to
get out and about and enjoy nature-led activities
and outdoor fitness opportunities.
Interaction is increasingly recognised as essential
to older peoples’ well-being. In the past, even the
most sought-after senior living facilities often forgot
the human need for socialisation in their design.
With a focus on preserving independence,
opportunities for communal experiences and
encounters were seen as a secondary considera-
tion and unintentionally reduced.
In the late 1980s and ’90s, the emphasis was
on individual units for independent living. These
facilities were much more internally focussed and
tended to have a rather formal entrance and quite
structured flower beds that were for looking at,
rather than a community asset that residents are
encouraged to be involved with.
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