After a “long gestation,” work has finally begun on the extension and refurbishment of Hardi Aged Care Blacktown, 45km west of the Sydney CBD, architect John Flower has confirmed.
The project involves constructing a new wing on the home’s north and refurbishing the central wing of the existing aged care home. The aged care home will remain operational throughout the entire construction period.
The home will be built from cross-laminated solid timber for the above-ground structure, while prefabricated bathroom pods will be used to improve construction efficiency.
“It is understood that this will be the first solid timber nursing home to be built in Australia,” said John.
Research shows exposed timber provides a sense of “warmth and familiarity” and “acts as a barrier against pathogens, reducing the risk of illness,” he said.
Aveo Bella Vista retirement village, built 33km northwest of the Sydney CBD in 2018 with architects Jackson Teece, also used cross-laminated solid timber extensively in its design.
The builder Belmadar provided the video below in its tender documentation to illustrate the construction process.
“This development highlights Belmadar’s capability in managing complex works within live, sensitive environments,” Belmadar said in a LinkedIn post.
Family-owned Hardi Aged Care has been in operation for more than 50 years, and has six aged care homes across Sydney.
