Delivering high-performance aged care environments

At HSPC Architects, we design aged care environments that perform operationally, commercially, and experientially. Whether we are delivering a large-scale, premium residence or a focused, dementia-specific expansion, our methodology is consistent: understand the operator’s model, listen, respond precisely to the brief, and deliver spaces that support care, community, and long-term viability.

The following three projects exemplify how architecture can strengthen service delivery, improve resident experience, staff experience and contribute meaningfully to the life cycle performance of an aged care asset.

Regis Camberwell - A benchmark in premium residential aged care

Regis Camberwell is a four-storey, 112-bed aged care residence located in Melbourne’s inner east. Delivered with a strong focus on integration and efficiency, the development includes private bedrooms, independent living apartments, and a purpose-designed dementia care unit.

Our architectural response addressed a complex brief - combining high-end amenity with operational performance. We maximised views to the adjacent parkland, introduced natural light to all floors, and layered in generous communal offerings including a cinema, day spa, salon, library, and dining spaces. Internal adjacencies were planned to reduce travel distances for staff and improve service response times across all care levels.

Regis Camberwell sets a benchmark for the delivery of hospitality-style aged care that remains clinically responsive and operationally clear.

Mirridong Aged Care - Small-scale dementia care with strategic impact

Our work at Mirridong Aged Care in Bendigo, delivered for Japara (now Calvary), a 16-bed dementia-specific small house style, standalone extension. The addition required seamless physical and operational integration with the original building while introducing a distinct model of care.

We prioritised orientation, ceiling volume, and legibility in the layout to support both clinical staff and residents with cognitive impairment. Pitched ceilings and domestic-scale detailing create a familiar, low-stimulus environment. Access points are strategically located to maintain security while allowing free movement and passive observation.

This project demonstrates how smaller capital works can still produce significant gains in quality of care, market differentiation, and spatial efficiency.

Riverside Aged Care - Site-responsive planning with commercial alignment

Completed in Launceston, Tasmania, Riverside Aged Care comprises 90 beds, including dementia-specific accommodation. The project takes advantage of the elevated site to create a sense of openness and connection, while remaining grounded in clinical and operational performance.

We applied a site-responsive planning model, with natural topography used to guide the building massing and resident movement. Landscaped zones were positioned to encourage outdoor activity and interaction while aiding passive supervision. Internally, the layout allows for efficient staff deployment without compromising the amenity of residents.

Riverside exemplifies how well-considered architecture can amplify land value, streamline operations, and support long-term return on investment for providers.

An Informed and Measured Approach

Across these unique and different projects, our role extended beyond architectural resolution. We engaged deeply with operational models, site constraints, and resident needs to ensure each outcome was not only contextually appropriate but also enduring in its function.

What links Regis Camberwell, Mirridong, and Riverside is not a singular aesthetic, but a consistent methodology: align design with service delivery, prioritise spatial clarity, and anticipate how the building must perform on day one and into the future.

In a sector facing evolving demands around workforce, compliance, and resident expectations, we see architecture not as a fixed solution, but as a framework that must support flexibility, longevity, and care at its core.