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Parkview is an aged care facility home to 144 high care residents in Brisbane, Australia. The design was a response to develop a high care residential built environment that facilities a model of care and support for high care residents to promote a well-being focus. Parkview incorporates careful choices of materials to suit its surrounding urban context whilst being conscious of scale due to limited available land and its multi-storey design.
The layout was designed to create flexibility for future development as well as addressing core elements such as resident isolation by removing dead-end hallways and creating recreational spaces to stimulate community integration by incorporating retail space and a therapy centre. Innovations seen in Parkview include its wholesome response to the 10 Principles of the ‘Eden Alternative’, renown for removing institutional, hospital-like ‘cues’ by reinforcing a residential focus.
Internally, Parkview has simple colour schemes so to encourage residents to decorate their rooms as if they were at home. Each ‘module’ of apartments is called a ‘community’ rather than a ‘ward’ and named after local landmarks such as ‘Glasshouse Mountains’. These communities feature their own theming with unique colourful artwork, use of local timber species throughout and identity which creates a sense of place.
Parkview is not so much a building, but a community flowing with the joy of life. Its purpose is to be filled with residents living well and with integrity, respect, empowerment, hope, justice, compassion and innovation.
Malcolm Middleton from the Australian Institute of Architect asserts that since Parkview was completed in July 2010, it has “re-defined institutional style aged care through sensitive and well considered design. Based around landscaped courtyards, the articulated corridors and rooms capture views, breezes and light, creating a feeling of warmth for its residents. Thoughtful details create a sense of home while welcoming in the broader community."