We are pleased to announce that our Trugo Place Aged Care Facility for Japara Healthcare has won two awards at the Design Matters National 2021 Building Design Awards! The facility took out the best Non-Residential Group Dwelling Design and the prestigious Past Presidents’ Award.  This is the second year in a row that we have won the Past Presidents’ award after our win last year for Killester College Performing Arts and Music Facility. We would like to thank Design Matters National and our project team who worked tirelessly to bring this building to life.

The new purpose-built aged care facility in Newport, Victoria, combines thoughtful design and natural elements to create a space that supports wellbeing and mental health, offering peace of mind for residents and their families. It takes its design cues from the local surroundings and the area’s rich history, and supports the wellbeing and mental health of the people who live and work there.

“Named after the popular local sport of Trugo, invented in the 1920s by local railway workers, Trugo Place is an aged care facility that has been designed with a vision of providing leading care while keeping residents connected to their local community,” says Alan Cubbon, principal at Crosier Scott Architects.

Completed in early 2021, this $34 million project represents a new way of designing aged care facilities by focusing more than ever on residents and staff. This innovative approach to aged care planning and design resulted in a facility that:

Encourages and supports inclusive, sustainable and vibrant living;
Addresses its context respectfully and sensitively, proudly celebrating its sense of place, landscape, and local history;
Provides high-level physical care and supports mental health outcomes for residents;
Is connected both physically and visually to nature and views; and
Provides a range of amenities and activities.

CSA’s focus on design principles and building materials that support wellbeing and mental health differentiates Trugo Place from other aged care facilities. According to Shilo de Bono, Associate – Practice Design Leader at Crosier Scott Architects: “The design of Trugo Place focuses on wellbeing and how the physical environment can support mental health. As soon as you walk in you notice the building has a light and spacious ambience, with views of landscaped gardens and nearby bushland. And the interior environments have been designed to be uplifting and welcoming.”

With neighbouring Newport Lakes as a backdrop, the site offers a beautiful bushland setting for the residents. “The floor plates are designed with a variety of views within and beyond the site, and the North aspect allowed us to maximise sun penetration, bringing sunlight deep into the building,” Shilo says. “Ultimately, we designed this home as a place we would be happy for our parents to reside in and feel happy and comfortable.”

Appealing to residents and their families, and its employees, the facility creates a sense of community and inclusivity, and this led to significant benefits for the client and owner – Japara – and the people who live and work in the building.

See here for more images and information about this project.

Architecture and Interior Design: Crosier Scott Architects
Photography: Emily Bartlett Photography