Brisbane retirement village St Luke’s Green has won the inaugural Nettletontribe Architects Award for Design Excellence at the Property Council of Australia National Retirement Living Awards, in recognition of its outstanding design metamorphosis on grounds that included the existing St Luke’s Catholic Church.
St Luke’s Green, operated by Greengate, was credited for making good use of the land on which it houses 61 retirement apartments and a 65-bed residential aged care home, all while reinvigorating the parish and helping to transform a largely forgotten site into a thriving new community.
Ben Myers, Executive Director of Retirement Living at the Property Council of Australia, says the benefits of great design go well beyond the physical building. The dwelling has also delivered new economic benefits to the church and immediate surrounds.
“In our sector, great design helps foster a sense of community and warmth, and enables retirement community residents to fully enjoy their village living experience,” Mr Myers said.
“The St Luke’s Green have been able to combine tradition with fantastic new facilities to create a terrific new community accessible to all, just a couple of kilometres from the centre of Brisbane.”
The design of the site stood out for its integration of materials and colours from the local community, the merging of indoor and outdoor spaces filled with natural light, and its ability to mix public and private space effectively.
The retirement apartments have been designed to accommodate grab rails, wheelchairs and
lifters and other equipment to be installed as required as a resident’s needs change, signifying the commitment to enabling its residents to receive integrated care services within their home, ultimately extending their independence for as long as possible.
Special recognition was saved for the St Luke’s Green’s energy efficiency, with the BERS
(Building Energy Rating System) star rating for the retirement apartments averaging 6.7 stars, well above the Queensland minimum standard of 4.6.
St Luke’s Green opened to independent living residents in April this year and is Greengate’s first Brisbane community, joining St Patrick’s Green and St Brigid’s Green in Sydney.
