Situated in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, Wainuiomata is the latest retirement community developed by the Masonic Villages Trust. This project is designed to provide a welcoming environment where retirees can remain near their loved ones, promoting the formation of a close-knit community.
Central to the Village's design is the emphasis on community and local identity, especially evident in the Common Facilities building. Frances Fraser, Director of Honour Creative, aimed to enrich the light-filled space by integrating interior treatments that echo Wainuiomata's geographic features, history, and cultural essence.
Designing an interior that complements both the building’s architecture and the surrounding landscape, Frances stressed that every detail – including flooring, lighting, finishes, window treatments, furniture, and plants – needed to be modern, inviting, and mindful of the needs of ageing residents.
Extending the exterior design, Frances notes, “the colour scheme draws inspiration from the raw materials, hues, and sturdy forms of the nearby natural landscape.” Forest green tones feature in the joinery and wall colours, complemented by warm timber elements and stony textures on the servery benchtops and fireplace surrounds. Grooved wall panelling and intricately woven upholsteries add to the sophisticated yet rustic ambiance.
