Windsong at Manly
Manly, New South Wales, Australia
This 82 bed aged care facility caters for high and low care residents, and dementia patients.

It was important that the design made a positive addition to the streetscape both in terms of setback and vertical rhythm that would complement the domestic character of the front gardens of King Street. This was achieved by articulating the street facade by pulling architectural elements back and expressing the building form as a rhythm of smaller vertical streetscape components rather than as one single linear form.

The focus of the development is the extensively landscaped central courtyard, which has been orientated to maximise natural daylight. The main living and dining rooms in the facility have been located with windows in a northerly direction, and adjacent spill out open space protected by verandas and shade structures. Shade structures are designed to allow solar access during the winter months but will restrict solar gain during the summer months when the sun is higher in the sky. Over 75% of communal / sitting rooms are north-facing to maximize solar access for residents.

West facing windows are further protected from the harsh afternoon sun by sun shades and energy-efficient glazing. The internal planning of the facility allows for effective cross-ventilation and natural cooling.