Auckland, 14 June 2024: The bar was set higher this evening when The Helier by Oceania was named this year’s Oceania Retirement Living & Aged Care Property Award winner at the 34th annual Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards.
The Oceania Retirement Living & Aged Care Property Award is a new category for the awards this year which took place this evening at Spark Arena, attended by over 1,600 New Zealand property professionals. The Property Industry Awards are the most prestigious property awards programme in Aotearoa New Zealand, celebrating excellence in design and innovation in the built environment.
Other winners in this category, who take home Excellence awards, include Red Beach Vivid Living in Auckland and The Foundation – Nathan Residences, Auckland.
The Oceania team’s vision for The Helier was to create a property that offers unparalleled luxury retirement and aged care living and it certainly delivers. With amenities that include on-call chauffeurs, a concierge, a fine dining restaurant, gym and wellness centre, indoor swimming and spa pool, wine library, cinema, beauty salon, billiard room, and private garage The Helier could easily be mistaken for a 5-star hotel.
Situated at 28 Waimarie Street, St Heliers, Auckland, the site is right in the middle of a popular and well-established area. To accommodate the surrounding residents, and to manage a build on a tricky site, careful considerations had to be made during development. The property sits on a volcanic site in a residential street with a 12m excavation. During the initial groundworks the team discovered fossilised leaves and plant material which required archaeological investigation.
The property has been designed to fit in with the established residences on the street, complementing the neighbouring houses. It offers 360-degree views over the Waitematā Harbour and Auckland CBD. The 13,479m² site built over 5 levels accommodates 79 independent living apartments and 32 premium care suites allowing for a seamless transition for residents should their needs change.
Said Andrew Evans, chief judge, Property Industry Awards, “not only is this a beautiful building with superior finishes and amenities but every aspect has been designed with intention. It’s a statement building that integrates harmoniously into its surrounds; the quality of the finishes is second to none and its sustainability credentials will appeal to discerning residents as much as its functionality as they enjoy their later years.”
The Helier has been designed with sustainability in mind. Building features such as hydronic underfloor heating in the communal lounges, continuous extraction in bathrooms, heat pumps for heating and cooling requirements and LED lighting promote energy efficiency and resident health and wellbeing. In addition, the team selected materials with level A eco-labelling for insulation, paints, carpet, cabinetry, internal linings and roofing for their healthy properties and sustainable manufacturing. The site is currently undergoing its 6 Homestar certification.
While clearly at the top end of the market, this is an example of how to see out retirement in style. With north facing gardens, ocean views, and an outdoor fireplace, the building is set up to facilitate social interaction for residents to help foster a sense of community.
The dining room has been set up like a restaurant with resident Executive Chef, Charles Pihera at the helm. His philosophy is that the experience of eating at The Helier should feel just the same as a five-star dining one.
Perhaps a resident comment in the award entry sums this property up best. “We describe The Helier experience as being elevated, elegant, elder living.”
Oceania Retirement Living & Aged Care Property Award
Best in Category: The Helier
- Owner/developer: Oceania
- Construction: Argon Constructors
- Architect: Peddlethorp
- Structural engineer: MSC Consulting Group
- Service/mechanical/building enclosure engineer: Babbage Consultants
- Quantity surveyor: Dean, Murray & Partners
- Project manager: Oceania
- Landscape architect: Greenwood Associates
- Geotechnical engineer: Tetra Tech Coffey
Excellence:
- Red Beach Vivid Living, Auckland
- The Foundation – Nathan Residences, Auckland
Merit:
- Metlifecare Fairway Gardens Retirement Village, Auckland
- Summerset on the Landing, Wellington
- The Bellevue, Christchurch
ENDS
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