Forget poky rooms and tired old community centres – today’s retirement villages offer the kind of accommodation and facilities you’d expect in a hotel.
The Village Coorparoo in Queensland, which was awarded the Best Retirement Living Development at the Property Council of Australia’s National Awards last week, is a prime example.
It has also won Best Apartment in the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Awards for all of Australia.
Designed by Brisbane-based S3 architects, the Village has an average unit size of 115sqm to 120sqm complete with a big balcony.
Its community facilities, which include a cinema, library (pictured), billiard room, bowling green, BBQ area and more, stretch to over 2000sqm.
Setting the benchmark in retirement living
The other finalists are just as impressive in their quality and attention to detail. Wivenhoe Village at Cobbitty in New South Wales is designed with a range of eco-friendly and passive solar features.
All of the open-plan units face north to capture light in winter and provide shade in summer. Open parks and gardens around the village and common paths between units create a sense of space while still keeping residents connected.
Co-owner John Leo tells us the real hub of the village is the cinema, which has its own movie club and offers a way for residents to get to know each other.
“People can book it out for events, host movie nights for their grandchildren and watch all the big-name sporting events,” he says.
Clearly downsizing to a village doesn’t mean downsizing your lifestyle.
