Bloom reflects growing demand for more holistic aged care communities.

SORA is seeing a growing demand for holistic residential aged care communities , exemplified by our recent completion of a boutique aged care home called Bloom, located in Clyde North.

Commissioned by family-owned aged care provider Luson Health – and completed in October 2021 – the state-of-the-art residence responds to a burgeoning desire for aged care environments that better support the full range of social, recreational, aesthetic, and practical needs of aged care residents and their families.

From the outset, SORA set-out to inject the feeling of a community shopping strip into the facility, and this was created through the inclusion of elements such as a hairdressing salon, allied health suites, a cinema, gym, library and shared outdoor spaces – all of which provide convenience for residents, while facilitating social engagement and interaction.

The Bloom project has been designed and built to provide a range of modern living and lifestyle facilities more commonly associated with a luxury hotel or high-end retirement community.

The development responds to Luson’s brief to create a modern environment that is inspiring and engaging – supporting independent living with professional care, while fostering a sense of home and community.

Each of the spacious private rooms includes an ensuite and abundant natural light, and there are also areas in the development dedicated to private dining and extended levels of clinical care.

At the same time, residents are encouraged to engage in entertainment activities and social interaction, through the inclusion of shared amenities such as a cinema, café, gym, library, guest lounge and central dining area, as well as extensive outdoor entertaining areas and gardens.

Client: Baptcare
Location: Doncaster East
Completion: 2017

The staged development of this ‘ageing in place’ community includes a new 150-bed residential aged care facility, 142 new independent living apartments across four buildings, a community centre and underground car parking. Thirty-two existing independent living units are to be retained.

The design concept revolves around the notion of a village and encourages interaction between residents. A key feature is the landscapes pedestrian spine which connects each of the buildings and takes on the characteristics of a village centre in the middle of the site. The planning takes advantage of the views and access into the internal courtyard.

The light-filled interior embraces the warm hues of nature, which is expressed through the use of natural stones and textural timbers throughout the interior design of the development.

Client: Bluecross
Location: Malvern East
Completion: 2019

Bluecross is positioned to service a discerning aged care market with an elegant and contemporary three-storey residence. The development of this continuous design reads as four commanding townhouses along the main Waverley Road address. The project involved taking down the original residence and reimagining it from the ground up, almost doubling its capacity.

The building is home to a cluster of common areas which simulate a lively street, while the residences are nestled in four wings which resemble quiet cul-de-sacs. This echoes the facility’s location on Waverley Road, a fairly commercial, busy interface, which looks inward into leafy Malvern.

A winter garden, library, cafe, hair salon and cinema round out the civic-minded and enriching amenities. The design concept strikes a balance between communal spaces and well-appointed and spacious domestic retreats.

Client: Mecwacare
Location: Malvern
Completion: 2018

Considerations of comfort and luxury are the cornerstone of these apartments, designed to enhance the lives of their occupants with highly considered facilities and individual home floor plans. The residences have around-the-clock care services, with priority access to residential aged care right next door. Encouraging social engagement and recreation, a cinema, lounge and bar are to be found on the lower level, with a café, business centre, dining areas and another lounge on the ground floor.

The bespoke apartments span over three storeys with a generous mix of two and three bedroom apartments all with large outdoor areas and access to views. They are located a short walk from the Malvern Public Gardens, where occupants have easy access to grounds filled with native flora and grand elms.

At The Orchards, Templestowe we set out to create a modern community that offers residents excellent value, an array of living and recreational options, affordable domestic and hospitality services that are more akin to a luxury hotel, as well as the opportunity to remain in the community as their care needs change over time.

Created in close collaboration with the owner-managers Baptcare, The Orchards is still being developed as part of a dynamic three-stage masterplan, the content of which is constantly reviewed and revised based on feedback from residents, sales agents, the operators and other experts, to ensure maximum integration of all the project’s elements.

The Orchards masterplan comprises:

Stage One
• Residential Aged Care Facility.
• Shared spaces and facilities, including café, providore, lounge and bar, outdoor dining area, indoor swimming pool, gym, healthcare rooms, vertical gardens.

Stage Two
• 33 luxuriously appointed, modern one, two and three-bedroom retirement apartments.

Stage Three
• 52 Retirement Villa Units.