April Newsletter
The times are still changing
Adaption is mankind’s greatest quality and whether we adapt to survive or to thrive, there is no doubt that change and improvement are key foci for both people and organisations.
The Lifemark™ website has undergone a major transformation and we are interested in your feedback. The site now has a responsive design, meaning it is optimised for whatever device you use and the website is designed to support consumer enquiry and education.
A new feature is the introduction of Pinterest boards as a way for people to view and then pin designs and products that will help them with their own home development needs.
Access to Accredited Partners is now searchable by region to give more relevant information to the end users of these services.
We have also introduced a unique new feature…the Lifemark™ Homescore tool. This is designed to provide more knowledge about how well your current home or the home you are thinking of moving into is designed in relation to the Lifemark™ standards. There are 16 questions to answer and as 75% of these are tape measurement based, the results should be reasonably consistent and accurate. You receive simple feedback on how suitable the dwelling is for easy living, both now and in the future. It’s simple, fun, but with an important message.
Please try out this tool, it’s FREE, and we believe that as more people understand the advantages of Universal Design, then more dwellings will include these features. We are still refining this tool, so again all feedback is welcome.
Over the next few months we will go live on the membership portal for Accredited Partners to lodge assessments online, which will streamline and improve the visibility of all certifications and official ratings.
As always please feel free to contact me on geoff@lifemark.co.nz as we turn houses into homes for everyone.
Geoff Penrose
General Manager
Email: geoff@lifemark.co.nz
Ignite Architects
Welcome to the latest Accredited Partners Ignite Architects. Ignite provide architecture, interior design and master planning services for commercial, hospitality and retail developments, both nationally and internationally. Ignite Architects are also involved in the design and master planning of a wide range of specialised retirement living, aged care and dementia care developments throughout New Zealand.
Ignite has been working with Summerset in an ongoing capacity since 2011, designing a number of villages, and is currently undertaking master planning work for future sites, including Summerset’s Heritage Park development in Ellerslie. This village will offer a mix of independent living villas, along with apartments and an 80 bed care centre.
Ignite say: “At the heart of our approach to aged care design is the recognition that, for any development to be successful, it must satisfy the living needs of its users and the commercial objectives of its owners.
“The experience we’ve gained across a wide range of aged care facilities has given us an invaluable depth of knowledge to draw on. Where necessary, our core ‘aged care’ team is able to draw on the skills of the wider architectural team to ensure that each aspect of the design meets best practice standards. This is particularly relevant as aged care developments become more like traditional home environments, and include village centres with a range of retail, sporting and community facilities.”
Buildology Architectural Design
This month we also welcome new Accredited Partners Buildology – “great people working for great people”.
Buildology are an Auckland based team of contemporary design and draughting experts, providing inspiring architectural designs along with a loyal service to guide you through your renovation or new build project, locally or nationwide.
“At Buildology we aim to benefit everyone who deals with us. Our motivation is to help people in a field which we are passionate about. To help clients through the minefield of a renovation or new build, to help our staff by creating a resourceful learning and working environment and to help our building partners by working closely with them to improve the flow of a project.
“We have found that creating sustainable, safe and healthy homes is a growing need in New Zealand which is why we are proud to align ourselves with the great people of Lifemark™.”
Buildology are currently working with Lifemark™ on a major home renovation project with the ultimate goal to achieve a 5-Star Rating.
St Andrew’s Village
The Auckland Presbyterian Trust also join as Accredited Partners for Stage 8 homes of their St Andrews Village retirement project.
Fusion Homes build better homes
Jack and Jenny Baird chose Fusion Homes Ltd to create their Lifemark™ home because of their Kiwi design, look and layout. While in the design process they indicated a need for their home to be ‘future proofed’, with features such as access ramps, an accessible shower, turning spaces and lower bench heights. This is where the partnership with Fusion Homes and Lifemark™ proved to be invaluable.
Fusion Homes Ltd say: “The Lifemark™ Design Standards set a sound template which was easily presented and interpreted by both the designer and the client.
“Fusion Homes Ltd has a policy to building better homes, which is where the partnership with Lifemark™ was an obvious choice. Thinking outside of the box and across a wide range of life stages and possibilities ensures that our homes are not only healthy and energy efficient, they are future proofed too.
“Many of our plans are easily adapted to suit Lifemark™ Standards and we promote this whenever possible. It is certainly a key feature that we endorse, and many homeowners look at these aspects in their design now, which is a smart choice.”
Congratulations from Lifemark™ and Don Jamieson Architecture
Congratulations to Donna Macdonald, the lucky winner of a six copy subscription to HOME Magazine!
Thanks to all who entered and to our Accredited Partner Don Jamieson Architecture for teaming up with us on this competition. Don Jamieson Architecture design beautiful homes that meet the Lifemark™ Standards of adaptability, accessibility and safety, like the featured Aotea House.
Keep your eyes peeled for another competition coming soon!
PrefabNZ launches the UNIpod
This year’s PrefabNZ CoLab event, on April 6-8 in Auckland, is jam-packed with interactive site visits, provocative presentations and keynote conversations on inspiring prefab projects from local heroes and international experts.
It is also the official opening of New Zealand’s first UNIpod – an open-source bathroom pod for multi-unit homes, designed by Lifemark™ Accredited Partners First Light Studio. The UNIpod incorporates services for an adjoining kitchen, is cost-effective, as well as being structurally sound and ultimately buildable. The use of prefabrication captures benefits of increased quality, reduced time at site, reduced remedial period, reduced interruption at site and the flow-on of cost efficiencies. It’s a glimpse into the future – an easily accessible, locally available open-source construction that anyone can download and use.
Prefab is part of solving the affordable housing puzzle – and the UNIpod is one of those puzzle pieces. UNIpod is launched at PrefabNZ’s CoLab by Auckland’s Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse on Thursday 7 April at AUT.
In the News
Auckland Design Manual blog – Lifemark™ Standards save you money, time and grief
Tony Moore promotes Lifemark™ in seminars at the Canterbury Home Show in Christchurch
Tech entrepreneurs see what it’s like to live as seniors
Lance Girling Butcher named New Zealand’s first “SuperSenior Champion‘
What would our cities looks like if they were designed for the deaf?
Lifemark™ Monthly Poll
Last month we asked: “Would you look for accessible accommodation when booking a holiday?”
54% of you said YES – accessibility is an important factor when searching for holiday accommodation. Accomable list accessible holiday homes around the world.
Would you use the Lifemark™ Homescore to score the accessibility of a new home in the future?
YES
NO
View the full newsletter here.
