A topping out ceremony was held at the Studley Park site in Kew on 5 December, attended by architects Woods Bagot, builder partner Hacer Group, members of the VMCH board, Mayor of Boroondara Cr. Sophie Torney, and member for Kew Jess Wilson.

The project broke ground in October 2023, after for-purpose organisation VMCH purchased the site for the $250-million future development. Once complete, the project will offer a new standard of living for residents over 55 with 103 premium apartments and resort-style amenities.

VMCH Chief Executive Sonya Smart says that by 2035, 17% of people in the local catchment will be aged over 65, giving rise to an emerging need for purpose-built residences that support ageing in place.

The site resides in Melbourne’s affluent east, and Woods Bagot Associate Principal Blair Parkinson says the new precinct incorporates a contemporary interpretation of arts-and-crafts, federation-style homes that characterise the local area.

“We’ve taken a contextual approach to the design, borrowing from the mansionette vernacular of Kew and pulling that through into the new built elements,” says Parkinson.

“Historic details have been reinterpreted in the contemporary built forms, including symmetry, rhythmic brickwork and gabled rooves, combined with state-of-the art amenities including a library, pool, wellness facilities, cinema, and community gardens, to name a few.”

The masterplan is formulated around the existing heritage buildings and established native vegetation.

“Our design intent was to create a village neighbourhood within a garden setting,” says Parkinson.

“We have carefully placed our four residential buildings within the site extent, integrating these structures into the existing fabric.”

Over the 1.4-hectare site, more than 2,000 square metres has been reserved for green space. Landscape architects Oculus says the landscape evokes the “botanical eclecticism” of Melbourne’s public gardens, creating variation, visual interest, biophilia and wayfinding for the residents.

Using principles of biophilic design, the landscape plays a significant role in the design of the development. “There are proven health and wellbeing benefits that result from a masterplan design that successfully integrates architecture and landscape, and this has been a major project pillar since inception,” says Parkinson.

Interior Design Leader and Woods Bagot Associate Glen Crawford says that biophilia extends beyond the provision of green spaces, with the interior design creating connection to the natural environment.

“We designed the interiors to integrate with the surrounding native vegetation of Yarra Bend and Studley Park,” says Crawford.

“The native tones and textures of the interiors engender a sense of serenity and balance harmoniously with the architecture.

“A key focus was creating spaces that warmly welcome treasured heirloom pieces to create a deep sense of home and belonging for the residents.”

With an emphasis on wellness and community, Parkinson adds the precinct has been embedded with design principles for ageing in place.

These include accessibility links, which tactfully mitigate an eight-metre site fall. Wide corridors allow for improved access, and residences are futureproofed to adapt to the residents’ changing needs as they age.

Across the precinct, infrastructure has been designed to support activity and social interaction, with varying public and private outdoor spaces to facilitate integration with the wider community.

Boroondara Mayor, Cr. Sophie Torney, says that retirement doesn’t mean a retreat from civic and social life.

“You can still be active, socialise, connect with nature and learn new things,” says Torney.

“St. Clare will offer all these opportunities and more, with features that support positive ageing in place.”

Parkinson says that the topping out milestone is a testament to the tireless efforts of the project team to realise the architectural ambitions.

“The Studley Park location has broken records for retirement off-plan sales, with 70% of apartments reserved a year before completion,” says Parkinson.

“We congratulate our client on this bold new direction in retirement living, and look forward to completing this project alongside our incredible construction team.”

St. Clare is slated for completion in late 2025.

Render: St. Clare retirement precinct / Woods Bagot

Clémence Carayol

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