Adelaide Symposium, July 2026

Event Report by Aleef Shaheel, Graduate of Architecture, Hodgkison

As Australia's population ages, demand is growing for homes, neighbourhoods and care facilities that support people to live independently and stay connected to their communities. AHDC's second event in the Complex Challenges, Connected Thinking series, Empowering Independence through Thoughtful Design, brought together experts from architecture, healthcare, research, planning and landscape design to examine how built environments can better serve older Australians. Held in Adelaide with a satellite venue in Darwin, the event featured five presentations followed by a panel discussion, covering everything from culturally safe aged care design to therapeutic landscapes and new housing models for ageing in place.

Speaking at Hodgkison Adelaide, Dario Salvatore, Managing Director of Hodgkison, noted that a significant portion of aged care providers have faced financial stress, making innovative and resident-centred design crucial. The message from the event was simple and profound: thoughtful design for our senior population, with safer and more inclusive spaces.

Cultural Safety and Co-Designed Public Spaces

Designing for the ageing community requires a deep understanding of their unique lived experiences and cultural backgrounds. David Kaunitz, Director and Architect of Kaunitz Yeung Architecture, presented guidelines developed alongside First Nations communities, centred around Country and Island Home, culture and community. Yutjuwala Djiwarr Residential Aged Care in Yolngu Country, Nhulunbuy NT, and Kaltukatjara Aged Care in Anangu Country, NT, both designed by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture, demonstrate how considered, culturally relevant aged care design can foster safe, community-centred spaces, offering invaluable lessons for universal empathy and design.

Inclusivity also extends beyond care facilities and into everyday public spaces. Dr Zinan Chen of Tract Consultants shared her PhD research, conducted in partnership with the City of Unley, where older residents served as citizen scientists to audit neighbourhood parks. The audits showed how subtle design details, such as childproof gates, low drinking fountains, and benches without armrests or backrests, can unintentionally exclude older people from local parks. The study used traditional 2D design tools alongside immersive technology, including VR and AR, to help older people better contextualise different design elements while reviewing functionality. Her findings highlight the importance of co-designing spaces with the people who will use them, to enable genuine engagement with nature and community.

Evolving Models for Housing and Ageing in Place

Professor Kate Laver, of Flinders University and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, noted that more Australians prefer to remain in their homes and communities, which means they need better access to information on how to adapt those homes to stay safe and connected. To support proactive planning, Professor Laver introduced a tool, funded by the Australian Research Council, that allows individuals with mild impairments to evaluate and adapt their living environments at an early stage. This would help homes evolve alongside changing needs and functional impairments.

Associate Professor Damian Madigan introduced Bluefield housing, an urban infill model that co-locates new dwellings within existing homes around a shared, high-amenity garden, creating a community-based living environment that emulates a family home. This model maintains a flat hierarchy and challenges the historical perception of "granny flat" living spaces. It promotes social connection, makes efficient use of existing suburban land, and allows seniors to maintain independence within their familiar neighbourhood community.

Therapeutic Landscapes and Dementia-Friendly Environments

Landscape design plays a crucial role in providing physical, social, and cognitive benefits, especially for our ageing communities. Tara Graham-Cochrane, Principal Landscape Architect at Tract Consultants, emphasised that therapeutic landscapes should be holistically integrated into the building design. By blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors, designers can encourage frequent, independent access to nature, improving mood, giving users a sense of place, and providing sensory engagement. Graham-Cochrane highlighted the importance of creating familiar environments that reduce unnecessary cognitive load, such as providing a clear line of sight to a destination, introducing recognisable elements, and creating soft transition spaces.

Universal Design for the Wider Community

The session concluded with a panel discussion reinforcing that thoughtful aged care environments prioritise quality of life and connection. The speakers agreed that safety features should remain subtle rather than institutional, and that incorporating local art and nostalgic elements helps spark conversation and reduce confusion. Designing for our ageing population is not just about addressing specific physical needs. It is about maintaining dignity, reducing cognitive burden, and enriching community. When environments are designed as inclusive spaces, they empower a thriving ageing population and uphold the dignity our senior members of society deserve.

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The Australian Health Design Council extends its thanks to the volunteers whose work made this event possible, and to our hosts: Hodgkison Architects in Adelaide, and AIA, EmAGN NT and Charles Darwin University in Darwin. A recording of the event is available on our website for members to watch, log-in required.

Watch the Event Recording