Higgins partnered with NSW based operator, HammondCare, on their expansion into Victoria, leading the design and construction of a specialist dementia village.

After acquiring the 150 residential aged care places at Caulfield Hospital, our client embarked on a major redevelopment journey to transform a neglected site into a purpose-built care facility.

In contrast to a ‘hospital’ or ‘resort’ model of care, HammondCare provides small, domestic cottages designed to feel like ‘home’. Their Caulfield village offers 81 bedrooms, neatly arranged within six cottages. Each cottage is self contained with a centralised domestic kitchen, a variety of living areas and secure landscaped front and back yards. The single-level floor plans features 12-15 spacious high-care rooms, each with its own ensuite.

Thoughtful design aspects aim to make life easier, safe and enjoyable for residents and their families, particularly for those living with dementia.

Seven ancillary buildings are dispersed amongst the cottages, providing opportunities for residents to socialise and engage in activities of day-to-day life. The various on-site services include a chapel, café, and kiosk, a general store, an arts building and gallery, workshop and hairdressing salon, and spaces for administration, maintenance and storage.

In response to the absence of car parking in the previous facility, the redeveloped site incorporates a split level basement carpark, offering 75 spaces.

Our program began with the demolition of the site, which was formerly part of the Caulfield Hospital precinct. We constructed each building on a waffle pod slab with prefabricated steel framing. External walls boast a mixture of brick veneer or FC cladding with Colorbond roofing finishes to the structures, giving a domestic character to the village.

Through strategic program sequencing, we achieved a progressive handover, which allowed our client to occupy certain buildings while others were finalised.