Meeting Reflection: Deicke Richards – Reimagining Aged Care and Housing Through Design

While in Brisbane, I had the privilege of meeting with Ingrid Marshall and Eloise Atkinson at Deicke Richards, an architecture, urban design and interior design practice known for its commitment to socially responsive architecture and planning. Our conversation explored the intersections of design, equity, and care, particularly for older people and women, through both a local and international lens.

Aged Care Homes, Not Facilities

Ingrid shared her recent report, “Aged Care Homes, Not Facilities”, which critiques the institutional language and design norms that continue to shape aged care environments in Australia. Her work calls for a paradigm shift from clinical, compliance-driven models to home-like, relational, and community-integrated settings that prioritise dignity and autonomy.

A key part of our discussion centred on De Hogeweyk, Ingrid reflected on how De Hogeweyk’s design principles such as small-scale living, normalised daily routines, and freedom of movement within a secure environment have influenced her thinking. She emphasised that while the physical design is important, it is the operational philosophy and staff culture that truly bring the model to life. Her insights reinforced the idea that architecture must be in service of care, not the other way around.

Housing for Women: A Growing Crisis and a Design Opportunity

Eloise Atkinson, a former Director at Deicke Richards, is leading critical work on housing for older women, particularly those at risk of homelessness. She spoke about the structural drivers of this crisis, such as the gender pay gap, unpaid caregiving, and housing unaffordability, and how these intersect in later life. Eloise’s projects focus on affordable, community-oriented housing that is safe, socially connected, and designed with female lived experiences in mind.

Eloise highlighted the importance of co-design, not just as a consultation tool but as a way to redistribute power in the design process. Her work aligns closely with the values underpinning intergenerational and culturally responsive housing models.

What emerged from our meeting was a shared belief in the power of design to challenge inequity, restore dignity, and support wellbeing across the lifespan. Whether through reimagining aged care or addressing the housing crisis for older women, both Ingrid and Eloise are advancing a vision of architecture that is deeply human, inclusive, and grounded in social justice.

Their work offers valuable insights for Aotearoa New Zealand as we explore new models of care and housing that reflect our cultural values, demographic realities, and aspirations for the future.