Longevity by Design 2021 continued the purpose of creating visionary and innovative design to meet the needs of future seniors.

The theme of the 2021 charrette was FEELS LIKE HOME. Drawing inspiration from the global events of 2020 and 2021 that significantly impacted residential aged care facilities in Australia and around the world, designers, members of industry and progressive providers were invited to create innovative designs to re-imagine aged care design in the post-pandemic era.

Teams were challenged to consider controlling the spread of disease while maintaining a comfortable home environment, decreasing the barriers to connection with their own internal communities, as well as the external community, family, and friends during a quarantine event.

The charrette was held at the University of Queensland St Lucia Campus on Monday 1 November 2021, with the follow up pitching event taking place at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point, on Wednesday 10 November. 

Teams worked on one of three real-world residential aged care facilities provided by our three industry partners: Fresh Hope Care, Southern Cross Care Queensland, and St Vincent’s Care Services. While the facility in its community and physical setting provided a real-world context to the design challenge, the charrette is a theoretical challenge that encourages blue sky, innovative thinking for a longer-term.

Watch the highlights reel video from the 2021 Longevity by Design charrette: