Design ideas competition to improve quality of life for aged care residents

The federal government has launched a national design ideas competition, challenging architects and interior designers to reconceptualize aged care homes to better accommodate and suit the needs of residents.

The competition, Reimagining Where We Live, comes after The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified that less than half of residential aged-care homes adopt accessible and dementia-friendly design principles.

The contest has been developed to test the draft National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines, which was released for public comment earlier this September and has the objective of creating a better quality of life for those in aged care through practical changes to aged care homes.

Two locations, one regional and one metropolitan, have been put forward for the competition, with participants able to submit designs for one or both sites. First place winners for either location will receive $50,000, while runners-up will be awarded $20,000.

Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells said the competition has the potential to vastly improve quality of life for older people and the working environments of the people who care for them.

"To achieve this, design must be grounded in the experiences of people who live in aged care homes and evidence for how best to mitigate the challenges that lead them to seek residential care," she said. "The government wants to encourage flexibility and innovation in aged care accommodation design and support emerging technologies to better meet the need of future generations."

The Australian Institute of Architects and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects have encouraged design practitioners to get involved and be part of the solution for supporting older people to live meaningful lives by creating safe environments, which promote accessibility, independence, function and a sense of belonging.

The Institute's national president Stuart Tanner said the competition acknowledges the critical importance of aged care accommodation and the potential for positive impacts.

"Extensive research demonstrates that good design and architecture leads to improved liveability," Tanner said.

"All Australians deserve effective design, especially our aged care residents. Well-designed, well-researched buildings and thoughtful spaces enhance quality of life, which is what we all want for our elders."

An independent jury comprising nine eminent design and aged care sector professionals will assess entries, with insight from people with a lived experience of dementia. Jurors 2023 Gold Medallist Kerstin Thompson, architects John Choi, Allan Kong and Sophie Dying, interior designer Erin McDonald, landscape architect Catherin Bull, media personality Tim Ross, as well as 2023 Senior Australian of the Year Tom Calma and dementia care expert Stephen Judd.

Multidisciplinary design teams, led by a registered Australian architect or graduate of an Australian-accredited architectural program are eligible to enter.

Entries will be accepted until 12:00pm on 15 December, 2023. Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells will announce the winners by the end of April 2024.