Austin Place

Austin Place: a new benchmark for quality

We design and construct homes for people who want support and sense of community. Working with some of the most established names in the care and extra care sectors, our specialist design and technical teams have produced five award winning homes and residential villages in the UK since 2000.

Austin Place in 2017

Austin Place provides a glimpse into why we have been so successful. In many ways a typical project; 65 one and two bedroom apartments built for Independent Living and Extra Care. The building is spread over nearly 7,000m² of floor space, each apartment designed with their own fitted kitchen, bathroom and hi-end finishes and security features that you would expect.

Site plan

The Task

Our first task was to put together the nine different apartment styles that would form the blueprint for all the apartments. Our aim was to provide ‘supported independence’ for owners, with subtle innovations and designs to enhance their experience, comfort and security.

..and the solution.

So all worktops and wall units were mounted lower, storage drawers replaced awkward cupboards and plug sockets raised higher. We also used integrated waste bins, glass splashbacks and chrome ironmongery to provide the kind of quality touched that are easy to use, clean and maintain.

Consideration for the way community members interact is always a priority for us. So for this project we re-enforced walls for grab rails and provided extra allowance for ceiling hoists; futureproofing the building for years to come.

We provided extra wide corridors and external footpaths for enhanced mobility and access. And worked hard to preserve almost all of the mature trees on this heavily wooded site and integrate them into the building design.

Daylight floods both private and shared spaces with comfortable access to the protected woodland, gardens and communal areas. And although activity rooms and community areas provide the hub of the building we also designed a unique rooftop retreat with sun lounge, providing a quiet retreat where residents can enjoy views through the tree canopy to the
River Thames.

The rooftop garden

It’s the unrelenting care and attention to detail that we have brought to Austin Place that we hope separates the ordinary from the extra ordinary, and helps create successful partnerships and buildings for both residents and our clients.

We love our independent living. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. The organised activities bring us all together and the cafe is the hub; it creates a wonderful social environment. We feel very safe at Austin Place and I would highly recommend it.

Penny Hyatt, resident

Project team

Keith Varnes

Senior Associate Director

Keith Everitt

Consultant

Bradley Crosby

Technician

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