By Mark Allan, Director

As architects in the seniors living space, our work is much more than designing functional built environments. We’re shaping the places that people age within – a significant responsibility that continues to evolve with each new ageing cohort that bring fresh expectations, shifting values and different ways of living.

At this year’s Property Council of Australia Retirement Living Summit, that human lens was impossible to miss. Whether it was the honesty of resident testimonials in BASScare’s award-winning Morgan Glen Iris video snippet, the joy of the Seachange Singers choir or simply sharing a laugh with familiar faces between sessions, there was a constant reminder threaded through it all; that this work is personal. What I’ve taken away is a sharpened focus on the human experience, not as a by-product, but as the brief.

A new setting for a changing landscape

The Summit itself moved from the Gold Coast to Brisbane this year, held in the newly opened Star Brisbane at Queen’s Wharf. The precinct, with its rooftop Sky Deck and sweeping river views, offered an energising setting for the event.

A mix of bold architecture and restored heritage, the venue mirrored the retirement sector’s own balance of legacy and renewal and made for an ideal backdrop to three days of thought-provoking discussion and celebration.

Sector signals from benchmark projects

The two Queensland project tours offered a glimpse into what seniors living can be, each responding in their own way to a changing resident profile. The Green by RetireAustralia in Tarragindi (pictured left below) is a lush village oasis that feels intimate, relaxed and elevated. There’s a thoughtfulness to the community’s understated luxury and a generosity to the common areas that make it feel more like a sanctuary than a facility.

Meanwhile, Aveo’s Parkside Carindale (pictured right below) flips the assumption on vertical living, proving it can be vibrant, well-connected and lifestyle-driven. Its mix of connected amenity and impressive hobby spaces shows how building height doesn’t need to come with compromises.

Both projects challenge perceptions of retirement and show how design can better meet the expectations of a new generation; one that sees seniors living as a transition, not a trade-off. Frank and Tom joined site tours across Brisbane’s north (pictured above), getting a firsthand look at other unique approaches shaping the next chapter of seniors living.

Reframing value beyond the built form

There were plenty of standout speakers, but Simon Kuestenmacher’s session strongly resonated. His data-backed view on the Boomer generation and the future of ageing felt timely and relevant, particularly when paired with the ethos behind Bill Perkins’ book Die With Zero which I’m currently reading. It reinforces the idea that our seniors’ years should be about enjoying what we’ve spent our lives working for.

Another memorable moment was the marketing session from One Fell Swoop, anchored by the BASScare campaign featuring testimonials from Morgan Glen Iris residents Joan and Jenny (pictured below). It was a refreshingly honest and human piece of storytelling; not polished to perfection, but real. And that’s what gave it its power. It’s stories like this that shift perceptions, because they speak to people, not demographics.

A night that brought it home

The Awards Gala, as always, was a highlight. But it was the Seachange Singers choir (pictured below) who truly stole the night, bringing the whole room to its feet. The performance was much more than entertainment; it reminded us why this sector matters and that it’s always about people.

The evening was also a chance to celebrate the impressive work being delivered across the country. While there was no gold for our Associate Director Tom this year, a finalist in the Future Leader award category, the shortlisting alone marked a significant recognition of his work and a proud milestone for the VIA studio. We’ll no doubt see him up on the podium soon.

Beyond the summit

Fundamentally, what the summit reaffirmed is that real success in this space isn’t measured by the bottom line; it’s a measure of how a place supports a life well lived. And that, more than anything, is what’s stayed with me most.

As always, we extend a big thank you to the Property Council for hosting a summit that continues to evolve with the sector it represents.

About the author

Mark Allan is a Director at VIA and stands as an architectural leader. With more than 20 years in the field, his body of work across the sector demonstrates a commitment to elevating the standard of seniors living through highly considered, human-centred design.