A range of Caroma kitchen and bathroom fittings was specified for a new luxury retirement, aged care and wellness precinct opened recently by the Mark Moran Group in Sydney.
Located in the exclusive seaside suburb of Vaucluse, the complex, which resembles a high-end boutique hotel rather than a traditional aged care facility, features a state-of-the-art gymnasium, restaurant-quality room service, luxury spa, cinema and a unique Digital Concierge service.
As envisaged by the developer Mark Moran, the design of the $115-million precinct is focussed on providing a welcoming environment where residents can enjoy life to the full in a caring and nurturing space while still retaining their independence. Using their expertise in seniors living design, architects Marchese Partners collaborated with the Dementia Centre at the University of Stirling, UK to create innovative design solutions for this unique residential community.
A perfect combination of serenity and class, the luxury complex has already won a string of awards, including Best Design & Architecture Award at the APAC Eldercare Innovation Awards.
A report by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment found that ‘older people want homes that give them independence, choice and the ability to maintain their friendships and family contacts’. The report also noted that good design was vital for creating such spaces.
The Mark Moran Vaucluse precinct houses independent living units as well as a range of aged care and rehabilitation units, each unit purpose-designed for residents to enjoy life with maximum independence. Specifying the correct kitchen and bathroom fittings and fixtures was an important aspect of the design, with Marchese Partners turning to Caroma for their solutions.
Caroma’s range of kitchen and bathroom fittings is specifically designed to assist seniors to live independently, and includes products compliant with AS 1428.1 Design for access and mobility.
Comfort and mobility in the bathroom
With due consideration to the limited mobility of senior residents who may find toilet access difficult, Marchese Partners specified the Caroma Opal II wall faced easy height toilet, a modern, streamlined toilet featuring a raised seat height to allow users with restricted movement to easily transfer onto and off the toilet.
Also specified was the Caroma Care 800 wall faced close coupled toilet with backrest that not only featured a raised seat height but also a built-in padded backrest for user comfort. Features such as the backrest, the raised pan height and increased pan projection mean that this toilet is compliant with AS 1428.1 Design for access and mobility.
Bathroom fittings designed for ease of use
Standard tapware can often be challenging for seniors with limited hand strength and mobility. For Mark Moran Vaucluse, Marchese Partners specified the Caroma G Series concealed wall sink lever taps featuring large lever-style handles for easy operation as well as ceramic disc cartridges for smooth activation and greater water control in aged care facilities.
Marchese Partners also specified the streamlined Opal 510 wall basin and the Cube extension wall basin, which can both be installed to comply with AS1428.1 standards.
