On a site steeped in history on the Cashmere Hills in Christchurch, Rhodes on Cashmere is currently expanding to cater to a massive need for retirement living facilities on the hill.
Rhodes on Cashmere was operating from the original Rhodes Convalescent Home building which was built un 1886, until the historic building had to be demolished following the earthquake in February 2011.
The village is one of the most admired retirement living options in Christchurch, with its breath-taking views over the city, the Canterbury Plains, and the Southern Alps. The current facility containing 16 apartments was built on the site of the former Rhodes Convalescent Home.
It is owned by publicly listed Arvida Group, one of the New Zealand’s largest operators of retirement villages and aged care facilities, with more than 3500 residents across its 29 locations.
Each village is supported by the overall vision of the Arvida Group, operates independently and expresses its own character, personality and identity through its people.
Construction is now underway on another 29 luxury apartments as well as 40 hospital care suites, bringing back hospital care to the facility for the first time since 2011.
The new facility will be able to cater for an increased number of residents, and Arvida southern project manager Shane Mickell says it will go some way towards filling the shortage of retirement accommodation in the Cashmere Hills.
The $30 million project will be constructed in three stages over the next couple of years. It will involve up to 200 workers during its construction, and once complete, the village will employ more than 30 full time equivalent staff members.
Architect Jasmax has returned for its second Arvida project “This project has been a good couple of years in the planning, with reasonably stringent planning requirements for building up on the hill,” Shane says.
“We’ve managed to work our way successfully through that process, with Quoin Structural Consultants and surveying consultancy Davie, Lovell-Smith playing an important role.”
Shane says Arvida has put a lot of effort into minimising the impact of construction on the surrounding environment in the interests of fitting in with its neighbourhood.
“We don’t want to do anything that will diminish the property values of our neighbours up there, so we’ve worked within the planning restrictions to ensure we get the best outcome for ourselves and for our neighbours.”
Arvida Group was formed in 2014 and is rapidly growing, now with 29 villages in the group throughout the country including Rhodes on Cashmere.
Shane says the group places a lot of value in the uniqueness of each village on its own merit. “We like to think each Arvida village is unique in its own right,” he says.
“There is no uniform branding or one type of design. Each village has its own individual character which suits its local community. You get a sense at Arvida villages of residents who live there feeling like it’s a home that is theirs, it’s unique, and not the same as hundreds of others.”
He says Arvida builds villages that are smaller, more boutique villages integrated in their local communities and boutique.
Arvida has recently acquired villages in Havelock North, Wellington and Timaru and is looking at future development options on these. Shane says Arvida tends to purchase existing villages that have development potential.
“We like to have a balance of independent living and care, whereas many retirement villages are either one or the other. Development wise we focus on getting the balance right so people can move in being more independent, and when their care needs increase, they are able to stay within their own community. A big focus of our development work is getting that balance right in each village.”
This article was brought to you in association with the following businesses…
- Devie Lovell-Smith
- Quoin Structural Consultants
- DESIGN SQUARED
