Gulf Rise Retirement Village

Your studio has worked on several Metlifecare
projects. How do you ensure that each one has
a distinct, unique identity?

Our concepts and designs are always very
site specific, as well as connecting back to the
demographic of the village residents. Alongside Gulf
Rise, we’re currently fitting out Fairway Gardens next
to the Pakuranga Golf Course, where we’ve created
a clubhouse feeling in reference to the history of the
site and the surrounding open green spaces. We’ve
also designed interiors for Pōhutukawa Landing in
Beachlands, which are based around the bountiful
planting at the site and a ‘from garden to table’ ethos,
acknowledging the area’s agricultural history.

What sets Gulf Rise at Red Beach apart from
the other flagship villages?

Residents are moving to Red Beach on the
Hibiscus Coast for the lifestyle – they’re often
active, outdoor people who enjoy being near
the sea. So, the interiors reference that coastal
positioning and a slightly more relaxed, informal
mood while still providing a level of finish and
style for a more discerning market. The seaside
location and its community were benchmarked
– it’s a place where residents are sophisticated
but not pretentious.

What look and feel were you aiming for in this
new communal space?

The architectural style is mid-century modern with
quite a lot of brick, which, coupled with an emerald,
forest-green paint, gives a calm, contemporary
vibe. Metlifecare was keen to open the village up
to the surrounding neighbourhood, enabling the
spaces, particularly the café, to become part of the
community, so we were looking to create a sense
of relaxed formality to suit both residents and
visitors. We wanted to achieve a happy balance by
creating spaces that suit all the community but with
the residents’ needs at the fore. Interaction with
family and friends is an important requirement of
wellness so the interior design fosters strong social
engagement and accessibility for all users.

How did you choose the Warwick Fabrics you
have used throughout the spaces?

The selection of fabrics available from Warwick
is vast but what we like about its collections is
the diversity in colours and textures, including
soft-touch velvets and leather looks. As much
as the spaces in the Tiritiri clubhouse are highuse
environments, we needed the fabrics to feel
like an extension of someone’s home. Warwick’s
Tritan range is highly durable and is easy-clean,
antimicrobial and antibacterial but it still has a
residential quality. Warwick’s wide range of fabrics
meets Metlifecare’s durable healthcare requirements
within its villages so we used Warwick for all of the
drapery and the majority of the furniture.

Text and images courtesy of Architecture NZ