Australians are living longer thanks to the health and fitness they enjoy in retirement, so one of Bent Architecture's passions is designing for older people. Through empathetic design strategies, they can live independently into old age in the home they love and feel comfortable in. With an ageing population, houses are designed with ageing and accessibility in mind, meaning they don't need to be retrofitted to address mobility issues, don't require a lot of maintenance and don't feel overwhelming to older owners. This idea is reflected in their new work Mt Eliza House.

The client wanted their new home to be designed as a living space surrounded by greenery. The studio's large Windows facing the garden retain the feel of nature and the outdoors, making it easy to forget that the house is on an ordinary suburban street. Living areas run the length of the block and open to the north side and backyard, bringing plenty of light to the home. Windows in the great lounge frame a grassy woodland garden, where the setting sun bathes native grasses and trees in a rainbow of light. The courtyard at the centre of the house enhances the sense of being surrounded by nature, and the house is surrounded by some ferns brought in by the client to enhance the sense of belonging.

Another key factor in getting the client's new home to be surrounded by a garden was their decision to remove the front fence and place the garden directly on a natural strip. This separates the house from the street and allows the client to feel their passion for gardening and restoring local vegetation. The house's careful design and its native gardens are Bent Architecture's way of bringing soul into an urban setting and interpreting their long-standing way of life. For the client, the new home breaks down the barrier between traditional living and the natural world. The property will be a great comfort to them in their old age.