For 15 years a hall on Park Road, Miramar, served as a day base for IHC/IDEA Services. When the people using the hall moved to a new base in early 2015 Park Road was left empty.
The buildings were tired and passed their used by date, says Architect Mark Highham.
“What we are doing today is updating and converting the buildings into three, two bedroom units, designed to be as accessibility friendly as possible – while also maintaining the architectural integrity of the original buildings,” says Mark.
For Park Road, accessibility friendly means meeting the needs of their tenants today, but also to be adaptable so that they can meet the future needs of tenants if and when those needs change.
“People are getting older, we are seeing people with different demands needing housing that is accessible and that meets their needs.
The homes Accessible Properties manage need to continue to develop to meet these demands,” says Accessible Properties General Manager of Property Services, Nigel Smith.
The Park Road homes are an example of work being done to meet these demands. There are wide doorways, space in the kitchen and bedrooms for wheelchairs to easily manoeuvre, light fittings and benches at wheelchair accessible heights and bathrooms with fully adjustable wet table facilities, rather than large, clunky bathtubs taking up room.
“These developments come about because Accessible Properties and IDEA Services are working together throughout the entire building process, from initial planning through to finished homes being unveiled to ensure homes are the best they can be for vulnerable people,” says Nigel.
The transformation at Park Road is due for completion at the end of June, something that Accessible Properties and the new Park Road tenants will certainly be happy about.