When the architectural team at CHADA received the brief for SummitCare Baulkham Hills, it was clear that this would be no ordinary design. Based on extensive research into consumer demands and future needs, as well as new materials used for the first time in residential aged care, the facility was looking to be quite unlike any other seniors residential development in Australia.

The result? A spacious 186-room residential building with light, stylish and comfortable environments that owe much to the innovative textiles hand-picked and custom designed by CHADA. Like the design of any aged-care facility, SummitCare required a specific range of design choices – from accessibility and flexible living spaces, to the inclusion of restaurants, hairdresser, wellness centre, and accommodation for couples and families.

“It’s about striking a balance between high-quality aesthetics and the need for operational appropriate materials,” says CHADA partner, Juliet Ashworth. “We have created beautiful living environments using new textiles and finishes that are high tech in their performance, environmentally friendly and, importantly, dementia friendly.”

These textiles include custom-designed handmade rugs and axminster carpet sourced from Designer Rugs. Custom rugs are a feature of all of CHADA’s projects, and in SummitCare, the goal was to create a family of rug designs inspired by nature that would bring colour and vibrancy into the otherwise mellow, natural-toned spaces.

“Rugs and carpet are an important element for projects such as Summit Care for adding a personalised touch to the space,” says Designer Rugs managing director Yosi Tal. “The beauty of custom work, and the reason we so enjoy doing it is that it can put a signature stamp onto a space while reinforcing the overall interior design aesthetic,” he says.

For CHADA, working with Designer Rugs made the process of translating its design concepts into beautiful handmade rugs and carpet a seamless and creatively focused experience. “The rug expert they assigned to the project took our brief and helped select colours to achieve the look we envisaged,” says Ashworth. “A rug isn’t just a rug – we tweaked the colours and the scale of some of the patterns until we felt we had achieved the right balance.

Designer Rugs really do give designers a very good resource in its level of expertise and the efficiency of the design process.” CHADA has always placed a huge value on the materiality and aesthetics of all its projects – rugs need to look plush and be rich in colour and design. The yarns and composition of Designer Rugs’ selections throughout the facility make all the difference, and for SummitCare Baulkham Hills, that’s what was needed to produce the level of luxury required.

“We feel confident residents and their families are going to love this new approach to aged care living,” says Ashworth. “While it is not a hotel, the facilities and feel are strikingly different to people’s preconceptions of aged care.”

Photography by Geoff Sumner.