Windermere Home plans approval

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32720, 24 September 1971, Page 10

Windermere Home plans approval

Sketch plans for the Presbyterian Social Services’ Association’s Windermere geriatric home and hospital at Papanui have been approved by the Department of Health.

The architect, Mr K. Anderson, of Griffiths, Moffat and Partners, told the annual meeting of the Christchurch P.S.S.A. last evening that he hoped to have working drawings finished by midDecember. These would then be lodged with a quantity surveyor before publie tenders were called. The home is on a fouracre site between Condeli Avenue and Windermere The project, which Is at present ahostel for working girls, is expected to cost about $400,000. The Government has agreed to a subsidy of $5750 for each of the proposed 30 bedrooms in the residential block, and $7200 for each of the proposed 25 hospital beds. Plans were shown at the meeting last evening, and an outline of the proposals by Mr Anderson brought several questions from the 70 people at. the meeting.

The hospital block would be connected with the residential units by a covered way. All floors would be on the same level, and central heating would be provided, said Mr Anderson. Other facilities ineluded an occupational therapy room, a smelteroom, and a recess tor making tea at one end of the borne. Each bedroom, with measurements about rift by Mt, would be provided with a wash basin, wardrobe, and dressing table- There would be room for an easy chair in each bedroom, said Mr Anderson.

NO CHAPEL Asked if there would be provision for a chapel, Mr Anderson said thgt there was no specific area designated as a chapel. Three lounges opened in to ope space and could be used aa a place pf assembly which would more than cater for all the residents, he said. The superintendent of the P.S.S.A, (the Rev. G- F, MeKenzie) said that he personally felt they were homes, net institutions.

“We have tried to keop them this way. It is mere homely to have a service in the lounge than the rather artificial atmosphere ef a chapel," he said. Al] the bedrooms ip the home were single ones, although there was a compromise with two pairs of bedrooms, which were provided with adjoining

door? in cases where husband and wife were ttv, ing at the home together. If the demand grew for double units, it would he simple to put doors between other pairs of rooms because the internal walls had timber frames, said Mr Anderson.