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June 2, 2016

Yaandina fully occupied

Director Peter Keleman recently spent time in Karratha, participating in user group workshops as part of his role as State’s Advisor for the Karratha Health Campus.

Whilst in the Pilbara he visited Roebourne to see the Yaandina Frail and Aged Care facility, designed by fellow director Kelly Rattigan. The visit was a great opportunity to take a post-occupancy tour and see first-hand how the design responds both physically and culturally to its context.

The 20 bed facility is fully occupied. Elderly indigenous people are often unwilling to go into care because the facilities fail to meet their highly-specific cultural requirements. Important considerations include room for family to visit, direct access to the outdoors, and catering to end-of-life rituals. In Roebourne, a further issue is security. The Yaandina facility sensitively addresses all of these issues, and its full occupancy is testimony to the success of the design intent.

The gardens in the courtyard have grown since the facility was opened, and Peter was able to report back that the central space is well-utilised by residents as a place for tranquil, safe repose.

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