When people talk about Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), it’s often focused on compliance, accessibility standards and support needs. But the best SDA projects are about something much bigger: creating homes where people can live independently, confidently and as part of their community. So, with the Urban Developer awards having just been held last Friday, we asked UPco Senior Planner Angela Croome to reflect on a project that was recognised as a finalist in the Social Infrastructure category: the Bumble Bee residences.

The project in a nutshell

Situated 11 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD, Bumble Bee is a thoughtfully designed three-storey residential development comprising 10 bespoke apartments for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. Delivered by CCIG Impact Fund and developed by Panplan Properties in collaboration with Taylor Reynolds Architects, Honeycomb Access & Design and John Patrick Landscape Architects, the project showcases what’s possible when accessibility is considered from the very beginning.

Designed to achieve the SDA categories of Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible and High Physical Support, every apartment has been carefully planned around the day-to-day needs of its residents. The result is a development where accessibility, beautiful architecture and native landscaping work in harmony – proving that high-performance housing can also be thoughtful, contemporary and an asset to its neighbourhood.

The process (and its challenges)

Achieving a vision like this takes careful navigation of the planning framework, especially in an established neighbourhood such as Glen Huntly. Despite being a fairly compact site, the project team were rightly determined to include every aspect of function and amenity that would make the living experience truly practical and welcome – from generously proportioned bathrooms and ample storage areas to lift access for every level and landscaped private outdoor spaces.

Meanwhile, a certain degree of residential amenity was required by the planning scheme. So, we had to balance that expectation, while considering the site’s sensitive interfaces and the spatial requirements of an SDA development that aimed to exceed compliance alone.

Through careful design refinement, collaboration between the project team and a strong understanding of policy objectives, the project was able to demonstrate that specialist housing can be ambitiously designed while still meeting the needs of future residents and neighbours.

Why we love this project

Bumble Bee delivers much-needed specialist disability accommodation, while challenging perceptions about what accessible living can look like. Rather than separating people from their communities, it places residents close to public transport, local services, shops and everyday opportunities for connection.

We also love that accessibility hasn’t come at the expense of design. From the contemporary architecture and landscaped surroundings to the carefully considered resident experience, every element works together to create a place that feels dignified, welcoming and genuinely aspirational.

Cover image courtesy of Bumble Bee

View all articles