The Affinity Retirement Village and Clubhouse project comprised of the development of a quality retirement living village which included 214 independent villas, a workshop, bowling greens and a five Star Green Star rated Clubhouse.
WGE were responsible for delivery of the civil and underground power services in the early stages of development, then the electrical, hydraulic, mechanical and sustainability services for the Clubhouse. WGE team worked closely with the client and architect, taking a leading role in the preparation of the concept plans, liaising with various authorities and taking the services through the design, documentation and construction phases until the practical completion of stages 1 and 2 of the site development and the Clubhouse.
The project team had a modern design vision for this development that included the following requirements:
- Lots of a consistent depth of 24m to allow for refinement and change in the product mix as the project evolved.
- Ensure community facilities were centrally located to provide services to residents.
- On street visitor parking, disabled and visitor parking in centre.
- Community activities to be dispersed throughout the site within pocket parks.
- Two entrances and egress points.
- An entrance focused on community facilities.
- The site was to be organised in precincts focused around pocket parks.
- Health, management, education and mail services to be housed in community facilities.
- Ensure there were community meeting rooms, activities and function areas in the main building.
- Corner lots to house larger buildings that create a sense of presence.
- Garages to be recessed within the building and streetscape.
- Use a variety of facades and colour schemes.
- Private open space to be provided in all houses.
- Internal designs were to reflect current customer insights.
- Street trees were to dominate streetscapes.
- Individual owners to have personalised garden space at the front of their house.
- Create landscapes that will change seasons and create a sense of drama and interest.
Additionally the team had to stick to a pioneering sustainability vision that included:
- House types designed and located to capture light, breezes and views.
- Streets orientated to maximise solar orientation.
- Site to be planned to capture and channel overland flow.
- Pedestrian activity encouraged within pocket parks.
- Cross ventilation and security within house designs.
- Water harvesting principles within the landscape.
- Minimal use of lawn and reliance upon drought tolerant species.
The above was achieved without compromise in functionality or usability, making Affinity Retirement Village and Clubhouse not a bad place to retire!
WGE’s sustainability team proudly worked on the clubhouse at Affinity Village to help make it the first ever Green Star rated Community Centre in Australia. Achieving a 5 star certification using the Green Building Council of Australia’s Public Buildings Pilot Tool, the clubhouse is recognised as being at an “Australian Excellence� standard within the property industry.
Click here to read about this pioneering sustainability engineering.
