Capecare Dunsborough is a new aged care precinct in the heart of Dunsborough, a provincial town in Western Australia. The precinct is the first for the rapidly growing South West community and comprises an 80-bedroom Residential Care Facility for people with high physical needs and palliative care in a dementia-enabling environment. There are also 21 Independent Living Apartments, with allied health services, including new premises for the Dunsborough Country Women’s Association, a café and landscaped gardens throughout.

Connection to the community was paramount and the architects worked closely with the Capecare executive team and members of the community to ensure the project’s success.Located within easy walking distance to the

Dunsborough town centre, shops, cafes and medical facilities, the innovative community focused design also encourages connection, by providing spaces for social events that create an appealing and vibrant community hub. This link ensures residents maintain their relationships and connection with the wider community, enabling them to live well as they age within their neighbourhood that they call home, and where they are surrounded by their established support networks.

The facility employs approximately 80 plus local people, continuing the connection to the community, with residents seeing and interacting with local people.

Connection to nature was also important and plays a large role in the health and wellbeing of not just Aged Care Residents, but the whole community. All apartments have an outlook to native bushland and the upper levels have ocean views. The Sky Lounge, (the rooftop communal area) for Independent Living residents, has magnificent views of the Bay.

Furniture: Others. Lighting: Unios, Eagle Lighting, Kopa Global, Hunza Arch., Archilux. Finishes: Rural Stone Donneybrook Sandstone Honed, Ardex adhesives, Term-Seal termite treatments, Parchem waterproofing, Markham Aquron 2000 Medi-Seal, Midland Brick, Bluescope Steel Roof sheeting, Naturaliste Balustrading. Fittings & Fixtures: Ensafe Grabrails, Poolgrave Signage, Moddex Modular handrail, Christie Parksafe CC2 electric BBQs, Cora CBR4B Bike Parking Rail, Arcadia screens and louvres, Denmac Screens.

Photography: Henderson’s Photography.