Rawhiti Estate

Rawhiti Estate is a boutique retirement village in the heart of Remuera. Surrounded by quality residential homes and designed to complement the suburb, it is in keeping with Remuera’s ambience and architecture.

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uilding began in late 2015, and the doors opened in November 2018. Everything you now see and experience at “Rawhiti” has been carefully thought through. “As a management team, we pooled our years of experience and knowledge to create something unique,” explained Brett Meyer, Director and Chief Property Officer.

“We had an open canvas to ensure all design solutions focused on our collective vision to create a special place that we could see ourselves living in.

“At the early design phase, we focused on several criteria.

“First, it needed to have a homely hotel feel. With no narrow corridors, no beeping nurse call lights, no typical cookie-cutter rest home design that feels too commercial. Rather, you walk in and immediately feel like you’re in a resort.

“Second, we wanted visitors to walk through the door and go ‘wow!’

On arrival, the central atrium area welcomes you. It is a vibrant place for residents and their families and friends to meet.

“The area is buzzing with activity and creates a stimulating environment for residents, families and staff to interact.

“There is an external garden that has been brought indoors under beautiful branch-like timber frames that provide both aesthetic and structural solutions.

“The atrium lights up at night, and it’s soothing. It represents a place for people to mingle, interact, and stimulate activity. There is no better feeling than seeing residents with memory loss interact with independent living residents by choice.

“The Atrium has been used for exhibitions, dancing, cooking lessons, shows, art classes, table tennis and a host of other activities. It is a place of joyousness and laughter,” said Meyer.

The design philosophy at Rawhiti is a design based on what you would expect to see at home.

“We have embraced technology, ensuring that the needs of our residents are the top priority in an environment that feels like being at home yet delivers clinical efficiency,” explained Meyer.

“The building was designed to be modern yet efficient and includes sustainability practices.”

Lighting is a mix of LED lights and natural lighting, maximised with large windows and skylights. The automatic sprinkler system has rain

sensors, double glazing is standard, and a paperless philosophy is encouraged.

Recycling is encouraged, and the team have held several educational sessions with residents and recycling waste suppliers on how to recycle correctly. The kitchen has a zero-food waste policy, and all cleaning supplies are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

Finally, the residents’ accommodation itself offers memory loss, care suites and independent living options.

“A typical room with hospital-level care looks and feels like your bedroom at home. We think this is pretty innovative,” explained Meyer.

“From the luxurious cocoon recliners, homely fabrics and materials to the concealed ceiling hoist tracks and kitchenettes in each room, a resident feels like they are at home,” said Meyer.

Little wonder then that Rawhiti Estate is so highly sought after and typically fully occupied.

Also, no surprise that Rawhiti is beginning to collect some design awards and industry recognition.

For 2020, Rawhiti Estate was named the overall international winner across all categories in the Senior Housing News Architecture and Design Awards. These awards are held annually for the aged care industry and globally across ten categories, including senior living, retirement living, affordable housing and care housing. Ninety entries were vying for a category win and, of course, the coveted first prize across all categories.

The judges evaluated architectural excellence, design innovation, technology, and the ability to create beautiful spaces.

The win was a fantastic achievement that is a testament to the original vision of the Directors and to Rawhiti Estate itself.

BeGroup, the developer behind Rawhiti, is growing through acquisition and is immensely proud of its village.

“Our brand stems from the passion and drive of our management team and Directors. We have a hands-on approach to developing and creating villages that our residents are proud to call home,” summed up Meyer.