The Bone Marrow Cancer Turst and Plus Architecture open new Christchurch accomodation facility

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The four-storey, L-shaped building is constructed from precast concrete. Efficient and cost-effective including ongoing maintenance costs, it is also architectural in its own right.

The four-storey, L-shaped building is constructed from precast concrete. Efficient and cost-effective including ongoing maintenance costs, it is also architectural in its own right. Image: Brendan Holt

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The ground floor offers essential amenities, including a reception area, offices, and adaptable communal spaces such as a community kitchen. Residents also benefit from outdoor living areas and accessible parking facilities.

The ground floor offers essential amenities, including a reception area, offices, and adaptable communal spaces such as a community kitchen. Residents also benefit from outdoor living areas and accessible parking facilities. Image: Brendan Holt

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Rānui Apartments feature a mix of one, two and three bedroom units, along with studio rooms. The flexible design allows for multiple room configurations to accommodate various family sizes and needs.

Rānui Apartments feature a mix of one, two and three bedroom units, along with studio rooms. The flexible design allows for multiple room configurations to accommodate various family sizes and needs. Image: Brendan Holt

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Pre-cast concrete was cost efficient while ensuring the building looked good. The concrete work is foregrounded within the architectural design, serving as the envelope of the building. The design has been embellished with additional features, including cedar fins and colour.

Pre-cast concrete was cost efficient while ensuring the building looked good. The concrete work is foregrounded within the architectural design, serving as the envelope of the building. The design has been embellished with additional features, including cedar fins and colour. Image: Brendan Holt

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The brief wasn’t simple: deliver fully self-contained homes, communal spaces, gardens, parking, and admin areas. Do it within a tight budget, and make it feel generous.

The brief wasn’t simple: deliver fully self-contained homes, communal spaces, gardens, parking, and admin areas. Do it within a tight budget, and make it feel generous. Image: Brendan Holt

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Timber fins and pale blue façades soften the structure. This colour wasn’t incidental. Research shows soft blue tones promote calm and support wellbeing.

Timber fins and pale blue façades soften the structure. This colour wasn’t incidental. Research shows soft blue tones promote calm and support wellbeing. Image: Brendan Holt

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Rānui Apartments offers 43 self-contained apartments for patients and families travelling to Christchurch for lifesaving treatment, located metres from Christchurch Hospital and Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Rānui Apartments offers 43 self-contained apartments for patients and families travelling to Christchurch for lifesaving treatment, located metres from Christchurch Hospital and Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Image: Brendan Holt

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The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust in collaboration with Plus Architecture has officially opened Rānui Apartments, offering 43 self-contained apartments as a sanctuary for patients and their families travelling long distances across New Zealand to Christchurch for lifesaving treatment.

Rānui Apartments offers 43 self-contained apartments for patients and families travelling to Christchurch for lifesaving treatment, located metres from Christchurch Hospital and Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Image:  Brendan Holt

Located 500 metres from Waipapa Christchurch Hospital and a short stroll from Hagley Park and the city’s botanical gardens, Rānui Apartments offer a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, along with studio rooms. The flexible design allows for multiple room configurations to accommodate various family sizes and needs.

Matthew Charles, Director at Plus Architecture, explains the vision behind the project. “From the outset, our design approach prioritised creating a calm and comfortable environment. We knew not everyone would be in good health — that shaped everything. We added additional accessible spaces, well above what the code requires, resulting in a space that is soothing and restorative. Every design decision prioritised wellbeing, including the deliberate choice of pale blue tones for the facade, as research shows this colour promotes calm, reduces stress and supports mental health. This building means so much to all of us at Plus. Knowing how vital this building is for patients and families right across New Zealand was the driving force behind every design decision. I’ve never experienced this kind of kinship on a job in my career before. Rānui is a project that will stay in the hearts of the Plus team for many years.”

The four-storey, L-shaped building is constructed from precast concrete. Efficient and cost-effective including ongoing maintenance costs, it is also architectural in its own right.  Image:  Brendan Holt

Ensuring guests have all the comforts of home during their stay, each apartment includes comfortable beds, ample living spaces and complete bathroom, kitchen and laundry amenities. The ground floor features a reception area, offices, communal spaces, outdoor living areas, onsite manager accommodation, support services and parking facilities.

For the past 9 years, Plus Architecture and the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust have worked together to realise the dream of opening Rānui apartments. The $18.3 million project expands the work of the 26-bed Rānui House, nearly tripling the Trust’s capacity to provide “a home away from home” for those in need. This expansion makes the Trust the largest provider of free accommodation for patients and their families on New Zealand’s South Island.

Pre-cast concrete was cost efficient while ensuring the building looked good. The concrete work is foregrounded within the architectural design, serving as the envelope of the building. The design has been embellished with additional features, including cedar fins and colour. Image:  Brendan Holt

The project presented challenges, with Plus Architecture required to deliver these facilities within a constrained budget. The practice’s response was modular design of just three apartment types — repeated with precision to stretch every dollar, without compromising on quality or warmth. The four-storey, L-shaped building constructed from precast concrete is efficient, cost-effective and architectural in its own right.

CEO of Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, Mandy Kennedy commented, “The new facility is a beacon of light for families going through their darkest hours. It provides a warm, practical sanctuary for those travelling far from home to receive lifesaving care. What Plus have created is not only incredibly functional from both a family and operational perspective, but it is also beautiful.

The opening of Rānui Apartments is a game-changer for the high number of patients who are referred out of the region for treatment. More patients and families across New Zealand can now benefit from a place that feels like home.


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