Metlifecare’s latest offering, Gulf Rise, recently opened its clubhouse at the heart of the coastal village. Urban Lounge’s lead designer, Katherine Lennox, tells us about the interior design studio’s thinking behind the communal spaces.

Amanda Harkness (AH): Your studio has worked on several Metlifecare projects. How do you ensure that each one has a distinct, unique identity?

Katherine Lennox (KL): Our concepts and designs are always very site specific, as well as connecting back to the demographic of the village residents. Alongside Gulf Rise, we’re currently fitting out Fairway Gardens next to the Pakuranga Golf Course, where we’ve created a clubhouse feeling in reference to the history of the site and the surrounding open green spaces. We’ve also designed interiors for Pohutukawa Landing in Beachlands, which are based around the bountiful planting at the site and a ‘from garden to table’ ethos, acknowledging the area’s agricultural history.

AH: What sets Gulf Rise at Red Beach apart from the other flagship villages?

KL: Residents are moving to Red Beach on the Hibiscus Coast for the lifestyle – they’re often active, outdoor people who enjoy being near the sea. So, the interiors reference that coastal positioning and a slightly more relaxed, informal mood while still providing a level of finish and style for a more discerning market. The seaside location and its community were benchmarked — it’s a place where residents are sophisticated but not pretentious.

AH: What look and feel were you aiming for in this new communal space?

KL: The architectural style is mid-century modern with quite a lot of brick, which, coupled with an emerald, forest-green paint, gives a calm, contemporary vibe. Metlifecare was keen to open the village up to the surrounding neighbourhood, enabling the spaces, particularly the café, to become part of the community, so we were looking to create a sense of relaxed formality to suit both residents and visitors. We wanted to achieve a happy balance by creating spaces that suit all the community but with the residents’ needs at the fore. Interaction with family and friends is an important requirement of wellness so the interior design fosters strong social engagement and accessibility for all users.

AH: How did you choose the Warwick Fabrics you have used throughout the spaces?

KL: The selection of fabrics available from Warwick is vast but what we like about its collections is the diversity in colours and textures, including soft-touch velvets and leather looks. As much as the spaces in the Tiritiri clubhouse are high-use environments, we needed the fabrics to feel like an extension of someone’s home. Warwick’s Tritan range is highly durable and is easy-clean, antimicrobial and antibacterial but it still has a residential quality. Warwick’s wide range of fabrics meets Metlifecare’s durable healthcare requirements within its villages so we used Warwick for all of the drapery and the majority of the furniture.

See more in the Material Focus series, including inspiration from the SemiCreative’s Seven restaurant, Cachet Group’s 205Q Hive and Lobby, Queenstown’s The Central and more, here.

ArchitectureNow and Architecture NZ work with a range of partners in the A&D supply sector to create appropriate content for the site. This article has been supported by Warwick Fabrics.

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