1490
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-1490,single-format-standard,stockholm-core-1.0.8,select-child-theme-ver-1.0.0,select-theme-ver-5.1.4,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.0.1,vc_responsive

Insights from the Access Committee Event

The Access Committee’s (AIA) first ever event, Enabling Design: The Latter Years, with almost 60 industry attendees was hosted at the Bethanie Gwelup Lifestyle Village and Aged Care facility designed by KPA Architects, on the 12th October 2017. Among the three presenters Jessica Radny, Architect and Human-centred Designer here at KPA, gave a thought-provoking talk on Environments to enable; reframing our perspective in the design of aged care and disability projects.

3 key themes emerged across the presentations;

  • Projects driven by values create better social impact outcomes especially for staff and residents.
  • A good project brief is key for complex projects to meet design, operational and business requirements.
  • Giving people choice in their environments starts with deep understanding and empathy of the end-user.

These approaches in the development industry is uncommon. It is difficult to balance the social, economic and environmental requirements. The session generated some interesting questions for designers around “how can we achieve this?”

Ageing is a complex social issue. It needs collaboration from all sectors for innovation in sustainable solutions. There is opportunity to rethink the aged-care business model and for designer’s to take a lead role in facilitating the client briefing phase to push boundaries.

If you would like to follow-up on any of the topics or presenters contact details are:

Lynda Quigley, Occupational Therapist – Independent Living Centre [email protected]
Jessica Radny, KPA Architects [email protected]
Katherine Ashe, Vittino Ashe [email protected]