YANADA HOUSE UPGRADE - Northcote

This project entailed a comprehensive feasibility assessment of the existing Yanada House facility – currently co-occupied by the Yanada House Day Respite program and St Vincents Hospital Community Outreach services. The analysis needed to consider overnight respite accommodation for 3-4 respite residents together with associated sanitary facilities, staffing provisions and nursecall services to suit these new arrangements, plus fire and building services upgrade as necessary. Additional consideration was directed towards how the new centre might be planned to enable the flexible sharing of certain facilities with ongoing community day centre needs and to provide flexibility in relation to day vs. night respite uses (including the provision of informal retreat and multi-functional areas). The design also needed to comply with emerging standards relating to (overnight) respite care including the general avoidance of confusing spatial situations and problematic distractive elements in the design – a ‘highlight or hide’ approach. Yanada House’s existing identity was maintained by preserving the existing approach for respite guests through the historic fabric of the original building as is currently the case (refer plans).