Popularity of vertical living on the rise
The popularity of apartment living shows no sign of abating on the Gold Coast. As you get older, however, it is vital to choose wisely. Here are three questions to ask yourself.
Apartment living is popular on the Gold Coast – and with good reason.
It’s perfect for downsizers seeking luxurious homes without the worry of house and yard maintenance. This means less time spent on boring household chores and more time doing the things you love.
Security is another key advantage, especially with many seeking a home they can simply lock up and leave while they go travelling.
In addition, apartments often make living in a prime location such as right on the waterfront more affordable. And to cap it off, it’s great to own something new.
However, it is vital to choose your new apartment wisely. Here are three questions to ask yourself:
How will my apartment serve me in the future?
Think Tank Architects Director Michael Jullyan, who worked with Reside Communities on the design of Esperance, says an often-overlooked factor is how well your new home will serve you as your needs change.
At Esperance, every apartment has been optimised for ease of living - with the differences between purpose-built retirement living and an ordinary apartment highlighted at every turn.
“Not only have the apartments been designed with assistive technology, they feature wider doors and corridors for increased mobility, step-free balconies, and reinforced bathroom walls so additional rails can be installed at any time,” said Mr Jullyan.
Designed to Liveable Housing Australia standards, the apartments will also feature 24-hour emergency call buttons as well as an intercom system and internal television channels to keep residents in touch with their community.
Ramps will allow easy access to all facilities including the pools, while the community’s podium parklands have also been created with ease of mobility in mind.
Because they will be created on a single, flat level, they are easy to get around - with an abundance of inspiring spaces in which to entertain, socialise, relax and simply while away the hours.
“The parklands feature mobility-friendly recreational spaces on a truly expanded scale,” said Mr Jullyan.
Am I surrounded by like-minded people?
Moving into an apartment designed especially for retirement living has many advantages over an ordinary apartment.
One of the chief benefits is being among like-minded people of a similar age.
There are many waterfront apartments on the Gold Coast, but unfortunately many are a grab-bag of investment properties, and neighbours or tenants at all phases of life and attitudes.
Because the neighbours will vary widely in age, at best you may have difficulty striking up a friendship.
At worst, you may find yourself living next door to someone who likes to party loud and long every Friday night.
Modern retirement communities such as Esperance are specially designed to offer residents a strong sense of community, safety and security, and spaces to connect with family and friends.
Standing apart in terms of facilities and location, Esperance will be the Gold Coast’s most luxurious retirement community and uniquely tailored to meet the needs and expectations of today’s generation of active and independent retirees based on exclusive local research.
Among the top priorities according to the research are security, privacy, and social connections.
“At Esperance, there is a strong focus on social activity and a large number of meeting places, both internal and covered external, with ambience and landscape settings to reduce social isolation,” said Mr Jullyan.
“Community gardens and extensive planted areas also allow residents to potter in their spare time, while a workshop will allow them to enjoy the company of others and pursue favourite pastimes.”
How well does the retirement village suit my lifestyle?
Before you inspect an apartment, regardless of whether it’s part of a retirement community or not, it’s worth making a list of all the things that matter to you.
You may wish to be near the water, parks, walks, swimming pools. It may be that you prefer the convenience of city living with easy access to restaurants, shops and medical services. Maybe you wish to be somewhere you can meet new friends and try new hobbies.
If it’s any or all of the above, the range and choice of resident amenities at Esperance will outweigh anything available to retirees on the coast.
Located on Sickle Avenue at Hope Island, residents will be just across the road from all the shopping and dining at Hope Island Marketplace, and within easy walking distance of numerous health and leisure services.
It has been designed with a hectare of central green parklands, complete with water features, walking paths and lush lawns, with a boardwalk running the full length of the village’s 150 metres of prime canal frontage.
Exclusive recreation amenities will include a cinema, bar, café, library, private function and dining rooms, and outdoor barbecue and entertaining spaces.
Health and wellbeing will be well catered for with an indoor therapy-focused swimming pool, indoor/outdoor resort-style pool, gym, yoga and Pilates studio, hair and beauty salon, health and wellness spaces, and outdoor exercise lawns for activities such as yoga and tai chi.
“From the landscaping, bus pick-up and facilities such as Trackman golf simulators, day spa and hair salon, bar, and cinema, Esperance has been designed for the needs of modern retirees,” said Mr Jullyan.
“The main podium pool meanwhile has a 25 metre lap pool and walk-in beach style resort pool with waterfalls, making it a great place to entertain friends and family as well as visiting grandchildren.
“The project also has 1,000sqm of retail integrated to the outer boundary, which will be convenient yet slightly separated.”