Beyond Ageing in Place: Ageing in Community

Later living is often discussed through the idea of "ageing in place". That matters. But a home is only one part of what helps people feel settled, supported and connected as they grow older.

We should also ask how people can continue to age in community, staying connected to familiar places, shared activities, services and the everyday life around them.

For Studio.SC, this thinking is reflected in a growing portfolio of later living projects spanning the entire development journey, from early masterplanning and design through construction to completed communities.

Creating successful later living communities requires more than a singular design approach. It demands an understanding of how places are planned, developed, delivered and ultimately experienced by the people who call them home.

With projects at different stages of development, our portfolio reflects both the diversity of later living models and the depth of experience required to bring them to life.

Masterplanning

UPA Wahroonga

At UPA's Wahroonga campus, our masterplanning considers later living at a broader precinct scale, exploring how independent living, residential aged care and community uses can come together within an established setting.

The approach considers how different levels of care and independence can coexist, creating a connected environment that responds to changing needs while respecting the character of its surroundings.

Approved and in development

The Saxon, Oran Park

In Sydney's growing southwest, The Saxon, developed for Tulich Family Communities, introduces a new model of vertical retirement living within an emerging town centre.

The approved 196-residence development brings together independent living, hospitality, wellness, retail and extensive communal amenities.

Through landscaped rooftops, shared spaces and an active and engaging public realm, the design considers how a new retirement community can establish meaningful connections from the outset, evolving alongside the surrounding neighbourhood.

Under construction

Siquilla Retirement Residences, Campbelltown

Currently under construction, Siquilla Retirement Residences is designed to integrate later living within an established social and recreational precinct.

Developed in partnership with Campbelltown Catholic Club, the 92-residence project builds on the Club's longstanding role within the local community, connecting independent living with existing hospitality, recreation and social opportunities.

The project demonstrates how established community infrastructure can support new models of later living, while creating opportunities for clubs to diversify and strengthen their long-term offering.

Completed

Sage by Moran, Cronulla

At Sage by Moran in Cronulla, our completed work demonstrates how later living communities can be integrated into an established coastal neighbourhood.

Comprising 37 independent living residences across nine levels, the development combines private homes with communal rooftop spaces and an active retail frontage, connecting residents to the lifestyle and amenity of their surroundings.

The project offers a realised example of how considered residential design can balance independence, privacy and connection within a familiar urban setting.

Our experience across residential, mixed-use and hospitality design also shapes how we approach later living.

These sectors encourage us to think beyond individual buildings and residences, considering the experiences that make a place welcoming, engaging and connected.

From arrival and shared dining to landscaped gathering spaces and connections with the public realm, each element contributes to how residents interact with their surroundings and one another.

For developers and operators, the opportunity extends beyond providing homes. It's about creating places that balance residential quality, operational needs and genuine community value, while responding to the changing expectations of residents.

From the earliest masterplanning decisions to the experience of a completed community, our work reflects the different opportunities and considerations shaping Australia's later living sector.

While each project is distinct in scale, setting and stage, they reinforce a shared ambition: later living works best when it is not treated as a destination apart from everyday life.

Ageing in place remains important. Ageing in community broadens that ambition, creating opportunities for people to feel at home while staying connected to the places, experiences and relationships that matter.

Because designing for later living isn't simply about where people age. It's about how they continue to live.