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Australian Architecture
Merrin and Cranston Architects have been a part of the Australian Architecture landscape for over 40 years. The practice began when Les Merrin and Don Cranston decided to join forces to deliver a brand of architecture that helped church and other not-for-profit organizations deliver care to people in need. It was a time when, from a national architectural perspective, the institutional approach to providing residential accommodation for aged care, hostels and people in crisis was being challenged.
Established church care organizations were leading the way in challenging the seemingly inhumane approach to accommodating the elderly and the needy in institutional facilities. In teaming up with Merrin and Cranston Architects to come up with a “homelike” resident focused alternative, our clients helped Australia show the world a new Australian Architecture that gave back equality and dignity to the people who needed a home.
Today, Dwayne Nielsen, George Bellas and Laurie Ellis, as the Directors of the practice, continue on the Merrin and Cranston tradition of providing quality community living environments for people who are retiring, aging, needing care or supported living environments. As Australia faces the challenge of how to accommodate an increasing aging population of Baby Boomers, Australian Architects will need to be able to respond with intelligent designs that won’t become future gettos.
Contemporary Architecture in Australia continues to evolve as its population becomes more multi-cultural and environmentally conscious. The acceptance of more compact residential living is becoming more and more prevalent and this is also reflected within the aged care sector. Merrin and Cranston has been involved in the leading edge of compact integrated aged care communities that appropriately respond to current social and economic demands and future trends.
Merrin and Cranston Architects has successfully delivered multi-storey residential aged care facilities and independent living unit apartments and villas with integrated community services along Australia’s eastern seaboard, that residents are proud to call their home. Compact community living environments that relate well to the outdoors can be achieved without compromising a person’s dignity, quality of life and sense of well-being. Thus demonstrating their ability to appropriately respond to the challenge of providing “homelike” environments within an increased development density context.