Purpose-built as a 176 bed, five-storey residence on a 12,700sqm site in Knoxfield, it combines high-quality care with an environment that feels genuinely home-like rather than institutional. Set against the leafy backdrop of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with views to the Dandenong Ranges and adjacent Waterford Golf Course, the project is designed as an inviting sanctuary where residents, families, visitors, and staff feel an immediate sense of warmth, belonging, and familiarity.

Guided by Infinite Care’s vision to deliver resident-centred care, the project brief emphasises community connection, dignity, and independence alongside operational excellence. Key objectives include encouraging residents out of their bedrooms and into vibrant communal areas and gardens, providing “street of life” foyers and amenities such a public café, wellness and lifestyle precinct, and apartment-style suites.

The design prioritises privacy, staff efficiency, flexibility to respond to a changing aged care market, and dementia-friendly principles throughout, ensuring Infinite Care Knoxfield not only meets contemporary regulatory requirements but also reimagines aged care as a connected, future-ready community where people can live life on their own terms.

Architecture & Design: Can you describe the initial vision for this project and how it evolved over time?

Cley Studio: Infinite Care’s vision is to be an Australian leader and innovator in residential aged care, delivering resident centred services with a total focus on making residents feel at home. They are committed to providing high quality care and additional services tailored to each resident’s individual needs, supported by a highly skilled team with an enhanced capability to deliver personalised care.

For this project, that overarching vision translated into an ambition to create a cohesive residential environment shaped by landscape, dignity, and belonging. The masterplan was anchored by a central ‘main street’ that links key communal amenities and fosters everyday social connection.

As the design evolved, the vision was refined through detailed planning, maximising lounge and shared living spaces, rationalising staff and support areas such as nurse stations, and fine tuning layouts to improve both resident experience and operational efficiency.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the design and construction phases, and how did you overcome them?

The project utilised a Design and Construction (D&C) procurement method, which reduced our direct control over design outcomes compared to a traditional lump-sum contract. To overcome this, we prioritised constant, structured communication with the head contractor to keep design intent, buildability, and cost decisions fully aligned.

How did you ensure that the project met the client’s needs and expectations?

We ensured the project met Infinite Care’s needs through regular, focused design meetings where we reviewed detailed architectural drawings together. In these sessions, we confirmed functional requirements in detail — for example, adding specific storage cupboards, revising office layouts, and selecting appropriate drainage solutions for ensuites.

This hands-on process is consistent with our broader methodology of early stakeholder engagement, iterative feedback, and layout testing to ensure the architecture remains fully aligned with the client’s operational needs and overall objectives.

Were there any unique or innovative techniques or materials used in this project?

Yes. Five key innovative techniques and materials were highlighted:

•    Modular bathroom pods
Prefabricated, fully finished bathroom modules were constructed off site, craned in and connected, helping deliver the project around three months ahead of schedule.

•    Landscape led building orientation
The building was carefully oriented to maximise engagement with the adjacent golf course and Dandenong views, using landscape as a core design driver rather than a backdrop.

•    Convertible ‘platinum’ rooms
Larger ‘Platinum’ suites were designed as double modules that can be easily converted into two ‘Gold’ rooms, with infrastructure pre planned to allow flexible reconfiguration.

•    Shared servery/scullery model
Back to back serveries with a shared scullery reduced capital cost and equipment duplication while efficiently servicing dining rooms on both wings.

•    Activated “street of life” ground floor
A central activity spine at entry (café, hair salon, cinema, allied health and activity spaces) creates a non institutional, community like environment that encourages residents and visitors to use shared spaces.

How does this project fit into your broader portfolio and design philosophy?

This project exemplifies our core belief at Cley Studio: creating people centred spaces where “form, function, and feeling work as one”. It aligns with several of our guiding design principles.

•    Community and connection: The facility’s “main street” and shared gathering spaces foster social interaction and a sense of belonging, enriching daily life for residents.

•    Contextual sensitivity: The masterplan maximises views to the adjacent golf course, drawing inspiration from the landscape so the village feels anchored in its environment.

•    Adaptability and future proofing: Flexible layouts – including convertible ‘Platinum’ suites that can be reconfigured into two ‘Gold’ rooms, and joinery that can be easily upgraded as residents’ needs change – support long term operational needs and evolving expectations of residents and families.

•    Inclusivity and accessibility: The project balances independence and care, supporting a future built environment that is harmonious, equitable, and inclusive.

At the same time, the project strongly reflects Infinite Care’s design philosophy. The village is intentionally home like rather than institutional, with “street of life” foyers and shared spaces that feel warm, familiar, and welcoming for residents, families, and the broader community.

The planning encourages residents out of their bedrooms and into communal areas and gardens, while still providing privacy and quiet when needed. The layout promotes staff and operational efficiency, is designed to be flexible and future proofed for a changing aged care market and incorporates dementia friendly design principles throughout.

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