Community-owned operator Boandik has teamed up with seniors living architects ThomsonAdsett to design its new ‘Big Sky’ 48-bed dementia village to be built in Mount Gambier, 450km from Adelaide.

Founded in 1949, Boandik has four aged care homes in Mount Gambier, but ‘Big Sky’ promises to be different.

ThomsonAdsett Group Director of Seniors Living, Simon Drysdale credits Boandik’s CEO Gillian McGinty for driving the project, saying her message was to open up and make the village part of the community with a commitment to social integration.

The village – which will be based on the small house model – takes inspiration from the town’s famous sinkhole with each home to incorporate a ‘big sky’ view of the central communal area.

“We are engaging with the landscape in a way that turns the typology of the village in its head,” Simon said.

Simon says the project will now move into its technical phase with a development application to be made within a couple of months.

Boandik supports 760 aged care clients across southeast SA with two retirement villages and 500 home care clients in addition to its aged care homes.