Overview
Raising the bar: Emmy Monash
Challenging the pre-conceived notions of senior accommodation, Schiavello partnered with Bates Smart to take the first step in creating a benchmark for aged-care facilities with Gandel House.
Gandel House at Emmy Monash Aged Care delivers high-quality residential aged care to the Jewish community of Melbourne. Designed by Bates Smart, the facility seeks to create a strong sense of place and challenges pre-conceived notions of seniors’ accommodation.
The sun-drenched building comprises 97 rooms as well as various communal spaces including multi-purpose rooms, lounges, a beauty salon, a café, a synagogue, and gardens. Each features quality design, furnishings and fittings.
Jeffery Copolov of Bates Smart
“The aim was to set a new benchmark in such facilities and raise the bar on the standards generally provided.”
Furniture plays a critical role in articulating the facility’s luxurious five-star hotel feel, with Bates Smart drawing upon Schiavello’s expertise when specifying seating. Very Wood’s Wise collection of timber chairs, supplied by Schiavello, was used throughout the building. The collection exploits the sculptural potential of wood to mould to the body while offering a high degree of detail and material expression. In an approach rare for aged care furniture design, the chairs demonstrate how ergonomic and mobility concerns are no impediment to good design.
The facility exemplifies the refined direction in which aged care living is heading.
President of Emmy Monash Aged Care
“Gandel House reflects cutting-edge design from leading architects, engineers, aged care specialists and supporters to create a facility that best caters for seniors’ needs for today and tomorrow,” says Joe Krampel.
Photography by Sean Fennessy
