Cook Park is adjacent to Wontama and typifies the established landscape of Orange.

The established garden and magnificent ornamental trees on the site offer a beautiful setting for residents, carers and visitors. The location of the coffee shop at the entrance conveys the welcoming and caring philosophy of Uniting.

Taylor Brammer’s design philosophy of wellness and inclusion is celebrated with welcoming courtyards which feature a bird aviary, vegetable and herb beds. Sculpture and rural character resonate with the countryside setting of Orange. Sheltered seating locations provide opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the sun and nature in comfortable and pleasant surroundings.

Courtyards at Wontama create opportunities for activities such as gardening and contemplation.

Matthew Taylor, director of Taylor Brammer attended the opening with over 150 community members. This project exemplifies Taylor Brammer’s design expertise in creating inspirational spaces and environments.

The existing distinctive trees on site were incorporated into the overall design.

This design expertise was explored recently at the ‘Making Cities Liveable’ Conference in Brisbane, where Matthew Taylor presented ‘An Urban World Towards Sustainability”. Matthew addressed the relationship of nature and human settlement. In understanding our ongoing and evolving relationship with our world, a historical perspective was used to evaluate the contemporary challenges and desired outcomes for sustainable cities. Read more on this presentation at http://blog.taylorbrammer.com.au/matthew-taylor-presents-at-2017-making-cities-liveable-conference/.

 Familiar countryside elements are incorporated into the courtyards, further supporting the concepts of wellness at Wontama.

WINNER:

Excellence in Retirement Living – Lober Square Redevelopment by Anglican retirement Villages

WINNER:

Excellence in Aged Care – Mark Moran Vaucluse by Mark Moran Group

Mora about this project at http://www.taylorbrammer.com.au/seniors-living/mark-moran,-vaucluse-/

FINALISTS in:

Excellence in Affordable and Not for Profit Housing – ARV Derby Street by Anglican retirement Villages

Excellence in Affordable and Not for Profit Housing – Petalurna, Katoomba by Uniting

Excellence in Master Planned Communities – Cove Boulevarde, Shell Cove, NSW for Frasers property Australia and Shellharbour City Council.

Excellence in Retirement Living – Lober Square redevelopment

Excellence in Retirement Living – Mark Moran Vaucluse

Excellence in Retirement Living – The Brighton Croydon

Excellence in Retirement Living – Uniting Petalurna, Katoomba

Excellence in Aged-Care – Mark Moran Vaucluse

The depth of experience in a wide range of project types is exemplified in the developments above. Clients recognise the value, design philosophy and forward thinking that Taylor Brammer Landscape architects bring to every project.

More information about the UDIA awards may be found at: http://www.udiansw.com.au/awards-for-excellence-winners

Mark Moran, Vaucluse

Mark Moran Vaucluse is creating a vibrant community in the heart of Vaucluse. In the words of Mark and Evette Moran, we believe ageing is to be celebrated and enjoyed. To facilitate the enjoyment of the warmth of nature, themes of bountiful harvest and simply enjoying scent, texture and character of the themed gardens establishes wellness across the site.

Designing a range of lifestyle places brings our vision of nature and wellness to the all-encompassing and vibrant lifestyle to Mark Moran Vaucluse. In the creation of the Sunrise and Sunset gardens these beautiful gardens have been inspired by the location adjacent to the iconic Sydney harbour. This underlies our relationship with our land with the natural and dramatic surroundings of the sandstone cliffs of South Head and the ever changing moods of the South Pacific Ocean. Complementing these gardens on the roof top are the grape filled arbour and Moroccan garden evoking amongst other themes, the smell and texture of lemons across the site. Part of the living younger longer themes has been making easily accessible the circular herb garden that underlies the wellness benefits of all the gardens.

Nature inspiring form

A world of knowledge and memories are highlighted in the plant selection across the themed gardens with both familiar plants and vibrant contemporary newcomers making a mark across the site. Careful selection of Italian Cypresses creating a walled garden contrasts to flowering native plants, the nectar attracting birds signalling their presence with calls in the themed gardens.

The enjoyment and beauty of the gardens will inspire a lifestyle that embraces the benefits of nature, providing sheltered, protected places so as enjoy life to the full.

Nature inspiring form

Find out more

Going green at Mark Moran @ Vaucluse by Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects

Whats trending in aged care:

1. Going green: Eco-friendly Senior Living

2. The rise of technology- enhanced senior care

3. More multigenerational housing options

4. More amenities and lifestyle in senior housing

5. Neighbourhood-friendly planning

6. Co-operative living: senior co-housing

7. Aging in Place develops the home health care industry

8. The decline of the nursing home model of care

 Source

 Sevenson, Sarah, J. 2013. 8 Predictions on the future of senior care. A Place For Mom.

http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-8-27-future-senior-care/

Meredith Gresham of HammondCare notes at the 2012 dementia conference that “About 80 per cent of people living in residential aged care facilities have a diagnosis of dementia and a major problem confronting staff are dementia related behaviours of concern (BOC)”.

Memories. Image source: www.cyberkidzone.com.au

Gardens have many well-known benefits in relation to exercise and activity for mental and physical health. Particularly in dementia specific care, gardens and outdoor therapeutic activities can lessen the confusion and agitation experienced by residents,  providing a higher quality caring environment.

”Outdoor spaces offer unique opportunities for a wide range of stimulating, potentially life enriching activities such as assisting someone who has been a lifetime gardener, to maintain some form of outside gardening spot” , Brawley E C 2001.

An integrated design approach to the design of aged care facilities and in particular, dementia care, is critical to ensuring individuals have access to, and opportunities for, ongoing learning and personal growth and development (Thomas and Johansson 2003).

Design development incorporating facilities, personal growth and development-Uniting Care Ageing; Hamlyn Terrace.Sketch by author

Current aged care alternative models such as “The Eden Alternative” identify how healing and therapeutic gardens play a vital role in facilitating access and contact with children, animals and nature to build the human habitat. Successful therapeutic gardens are equally visible and accessible to all staff, residents and visiting families. Whereby, resident activity is encouraged through the incorporation of a variety of outdoor activity elements including vegetable gardens, orchards, clotheslines, water features, men’s sheds, mail boxes, bus stops and animal coups. These garden elements provide familiar visual cues to assist in the coherence of the space to develop feelings of safety and calmness.

Visual cues- The Salvation Army; Collaroy RAC Images by DC Photography Designs

Contact with plants and the seasons is an important element for dementia gardens in the way that the plants can evoke memories through scent, textural qualities and taste.

Textural planting-Hammondcare Miranda. Images by Author

The integration of pet and outdoor therapy such as feeding animals, tending the vegetable gardens, fruit picking and general gardening for residents with dementia is shown to have a significant impact in reducing signs of sadness and significantly increased signs of pleasure in a staff supported environment. (Cox Burns Savage 2004)

It is important to understand the role of the garden areas in the overall treatment of dementia and integrating the garden design with best practice is vital in providing a quality living environment for residents, staff and visitors.

Familiar playful garden elements -HammondCare Miranda. Image by author

References:

Brownie, S 2011, ‘Culture change in aged care: the Eden Alternative(TM)’, Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 63-68.

Cox H, Burns I, Savage S. (2004). Multisensory environments for leisure: promoting well-being in nursing home residents with dementia. Journal of Gerontological Nursing 30(2):37-45.

Thomas, W., and C. Johansson. 2003. Elderhood in Eden. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 19(4):282 290.

httpwww.cyberkidzone.com.aushedshed_2.html

Commemorative garden scrolls. Image source: ABC News

Earlier this month, New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and federal Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews attended the opening of the newly built Quakers Hill Nursing Home; the site of the tragic fire on 18th November 2011 which claimed 11 lives.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects has played a pivotal role in achieving Domain Principal Group’s vision of creating an all-inclusive memorial garden conveying hope, remembrance and reflection at the heart of the 127 BED Residential Aged Care Home in Quakers Hill.

Gary Barnier, the managing director of Domain Principal Group told those gathered for the opening that  he was always determined to rebuild. He promised himself that we would not be defeated and that “Today I get to say two words that I’ve been waiting to say for two years. We’re home.”

Commemorative service.Image by author

The design of the Quakers Hill RACF is centred around a memorial garden for the community which embraces nature for its value as a place of refuge. It provides a destination of both public and private moments, a place to remember and to gain strength through the healing power of nature that is represented by flowers, plants, running water, sky and sun.

It is in this memorial garden, the heart of the RACF, where all these elements come together to be appreciated as one. There are areas to sit and appreciate the natural elements, paths to wander, an arbor to sit under and watch the seasons change; all centred around a bubbling water feature that transfigures the sky into the garden.

The garden has created a living entity set within the community of Quakers hill. Several trees have been planted centrally in the garden with plaques to remind us of the resilience of the community, residents, the emergency services, families and staff.

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects’ design development sketches

Reflective water feature.Image supplied by Zadro Constructions

The Landscape design is fundamental to the success of seniors living environments as the integration of the garden design with dementia care best practice is vital in the ongoing care and sustainability of the residents. It is well documented that up to 80% of residents living in aged care homes experience some level of dementia , therefore providing a garden with a variety of sensory stimuli based on the principles of sensitive design is fundamental to the successful care of all residents staff.

The systematic approach to the design of the landscape at Quakers Hill engages residents and staff in a holistic environment offering clear sight lines to the healing garden elements, an easy and welcoming relationship between the light and bright interiors and the green and carefully textured gardens. The gardens employ an array of texture in the foliage, providing a contrast to the carefully selected brickwork of the nursing home and adding to the clarity of the garden spaces. Pathways lead from living areas to clearly described circuits that are easy to comprehend even inside the community areas of the home. Seats, pergola, a water feature and dragonfly sculptures add to a sense of a connection with nature; the materiality of which complement the seasonal contrast of the planting throughout.

Dragonfly sculptural garden elements.Image by author

Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects actively work with our aged care clients in creating appropriately designed external spaces that go to improving social interaction and inclusion in residential aged care. Based on their experiences at Quakers Hill Nursing home among many others, James Heron and Matthew Taylor have presented papers and lectures at universities in relation to the power of landscape architecture in developing the principles of dementia care design. Read more here.