Australia’s most liveable retirement village

Lend Lease’s Isabella Gardens in Canberra has become the first retirement living village in Australia to achieve the Gold Livable Housing Design Quality Mark from Livable Housing Australia (LHA) - a not-for-profit organisation working to make homes easier to access, navigate and live in, as well as more cost effective to adapt when life’s circumstances change.

LHA has worked with industry, government and community groups to produce a practical set of guidelines that deliver enhanced liveability in Australian home designs. The Livable Housing Design Guidelines have been developed through extensive consultation with members of the National Dialogue on Universal Housing Design.

The General Manager of Lend Lease’s Retirement Living Development business, Simon Pagett, explained that traditional homes don’t necessarily meet the needs of older Australians. “In order to remain relevant and meet market expectations, we must respond to these needs with innovation and flexibility - being the first to meet this new national standard is one of the ways we can achieve that.”

Currently under construction, Isabella Gardens will consist of 122 independent living villas with two- and three-bedroom options and prices starting from $422,500. The Gold Quality Mark shows that every aspect of the home - from the design, orientation and fittings - has been selected to cater for the needs of today’s retiree, with a particular focus on dwelling access.

“Isabella Gardens features single-storey homes, with wide internal doorways, corridors and spacious kitchens, laundries, bedrooms and living spaces that enable easy access for our residents,” said Pagett. “The homes are designed to allow our residents to age in place and maintain the level of lifestyle they are accustomed to.”

The energy-efficient, architecturally designed homes feature lock-up garages and emergency call systems. Individual backyards ensure that the homes are pet friendly. All will achieve a minimum of six stars under the ACT Housing Energy Rating Scheme (ACTHERS) rating.

The retirement community also incorporates seasonal landscaped gardens and walking paths that interconnect with the clubhouse and a variety of outdoor areas for residents to enjoy and share with their family and friends. The clubhouse has a range of facilities including a wellness centre, indoor heated pool and gym.

Peter Verwer, Chair of LHA, said he was “delighted” that Lend Lease achieved the certification, claiming Isabella Gardens “sets a new benchmark for the industry and will give the residents confidence that their homes meet their needs both now and in the future.”

The first residents are anticipated to move into the community in August 2013. To register your interest, click here.