Background
For some, aged care accommodation conjures up negative images of clinical environments; but, in recent years, standards for aged care living have undergone a radical transformation. Increasingly, developers have re-imagined the possibilities for retirement living, providing customers with accommodation options that take style, comfort and lifestyle as seriously as care levels.The Regent, by Japara, is one of the latest of these next-generation care homes, setting an entirely new standard in luxury retirement living. Set in the highly sought-after Regent Street, in the affluent and leafy Victorian suburb of Mount Waverley, The Regent consists of 105 luxury resident rooms and suites, all with private ensuite bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the stunning Valley Reserve.
Challenge
“The main challenge is delivering a safe environment which responds to clinical and functional aged care requirements, but wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury hotel or resort. The selection of fittings, fixtures and finishes – especially for the bathrooms – are vital in delivering this approach”.- Annie Robinson
With a reputation built upon building care homes with the highest standards of quality finishes and stylish design, the challenge for Spowers – lead architects for The Regent – was to exceed prospective residents’ expectations. As Annie Robinson, Associate at Spowers, explains, “The main challenge is delivering a safe environment which responds to clinical and functional aged care requirements, but wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury hotel or resort. The selection of fittings, fixtures and finishes – especially for the bathrooms – are vital in delivering this approach”. In order to ensure that residents can maintain as much independence as possible, for as long as possible, Robinson and her team had very specific requirements for The Regent’s bathrooms – including raised toilet pan heights, slip-resistant flooring and lever controlled taps, for effortless water control. All this – while also fitting in with the ultra-stylish look and feel found throughout the rest of the design scheme, which included expensive timber and stone finishes.
Solution
Working closely with Japara’s General Manager of real estate, Toby Hicks, the Spowers team enlisted Caroma’s expertise in specifying the perfect bathroom range to meet The Regent’s high standards. A range of Caroma solutions were installed across 105 aged care ensuite bathrooms; including Care 800 Cleanflush toilets, Urbane toilet, Urbane semi-recessed basins and wall basins, Liano Nexus basin mixer and shower tap set (with a WELS 6 star rating) and Virtu Comfort Shower seats. “Caroma is easily our preferred bathroom supplier – we know we can rely on them”, reveals Hicks...
“They can help with everything – from on-going maintenance, assisting with any problems or faults to product availability. Caroma offers a diverse range of products, including premium options, such as those we’ve used in The Regent, as well as more traditional options; all delivering luxury experiences”.
Feedback from The Regent’s first residents has been hugely positive and both Spowers and Japara have been pleased with the bathrooms’ contribution to the final look and feel of the rooms. “We wanted a contemporary, clean aesthetic to help create a sense of calm and warmth to the homes, and the Caroma range has played an important part in helping us to achieve that”, remarks Robinson.
