CONSTRUCTION has started on a first-of-its-kind vertical retirement village in Modbury which will also include a Montessori Early Learning Centre.
The $42.5 million 85 Smart Road is being developed by retirement living and aged care provider Enabling Confidence at Home (ECH).
"The Smart Road development will see a range of our independent living residents living and interacting with a Montessori Early Learning Centre, creating a one-of-a kind community inclusive of a range of benefits for all involved," said ECH chief executive David Panter.
To be built by Sarah Constructions and designed by Walter Brooke and Aplin Cook Gardner Architects, the development is surrounded by Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, the O'Bahn Interchange, Modbury Hospital and other community and healthcare services.
"The SA Montessori Early Learning Centre at Magill has already been hosting visits with clients from the ECH day program at Walkerville and feedback so far has been extremely positive," Dr Panter said.
The retirement village will feature 77 two-bedroom independent living apartments as well as a range of integrated community amenities.
A four-storey building at the front of the site will comprise 17 apartments as well as a gym, allied health services, the Montessori centre and basement-level car parking.
The eight-storey building at the rear will house a further 60 apartments and two levels of secure basement car parking.
There will be a cafe and community garden central to the two buildings.
Dr Panter said the village will provide apartment-style living while also maintaining an important sense of community.
Attention has also been placed upon the inclusion of building design features that foster neighbourliness.
"One of our aims was to avoid hotel-like corridors so we have specifically designed the entrance to each apartment to include a front porch and screen door to ensure it creates a neighbourhood feel," Dr Panter said.
"We have also incorporated community spaces such as a cafe, community garden, and a gym to encourage and welcome people of all ages into the space."
The contemporary village design also adheres to dementia-friendly design principles such as using appropriate colour schemes and textures.
The early learning centre will offer intergenerational learning experiences between the children and ECH residents, including those with dementia.
