Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) and Ningy Ningy peoples
Queensland
Brisbane
BHC’s Solstice Apartments in Redcliffe, completed in August 2025, is a landmark project and sets a benchmark for high‑quality social and affordable housing for older Queenslanders. The development provides 82 thoughtfully designed homes for residents aged over 55, including older women and downsizers seeking long‑term stability in a connected seaside community.
Centred around a sunlit landscaped courtyard, Solstice offers a rich network of communal spaces—from a community kitchen and dining room to a library, makers’ workshop and rooftop kitchen garden—designed to foster social inclusion and neighbourly connection. Every apartment is cross‑ventilated and built to Gold or Platinum Liveable Housing Australia Guidelines, supporting residents to age in place with comfort and dignity.
Drawing inspiration from the ochre cliffs of the Redcliffe coastline, the building’s material palette grounds it in Country while delivering durability, warmth and a strong sense of home.
Solstice Apartments establishes a benchmark for social and affordable housing for local seniors. Organised around a landscaped north facing courtyard, the project brings natural light, ventilation and landscape into the heart of everyday life while fostering connection through a carefully calibrated sequence of communal spaces. Designed to Liveable Housing Australia Gold and Platinum standards, the apartments enable ageing in place with dignity and independence. Grounded in the colours and textures of the Redcliffe coastline, the project demonstrates how architecture can create enduring social value through clarity and connection with community.
Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Solstice elevates social and affordable housing for local seniors on the Redcliffe Peninsula. Organised around a landscaped north facing courtyard, the project draws natural light and ventilation into the circulation and plan. Significantly, the Clients have supported the Architects in a number of ‘critical surrenders’ which have adjusted the ultimate yields but allowed for a series of celebrated shared social gathering moments within the building. The inclusion of these spaces adds real vitality to the occupation of the building and the experience of living on the bay. A loose but controlled geometry creates a genuine sense of organic social space. The clever open circulation pathways encourage individual occupants to engage with the spaces beyond their door thresholds. Designed to Livable Housing Australia Gold and Platinum standards, the apartments enable ageing in place with dignity and independence, and the occupants remain an integral part of the local community.
Commendation for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing
Solstice Apartments establishes a benchmark for social and affordable housing for local seniors. Organised around a landscaped north facing courtyard, the project brings natural light, ventilation and landscape into the heart of everyday life while fostering connection through a carefully calibrated sequence of communal spaces. Designed to Liveable Housing Australia Gold and Platinum standards, the apartments enable ageing in place with dignity and independence. Grounded in the colours and textures of the Redcliffe coastline, the project demonstrates how architecture can create enduring social value through clarity and connection with community.
Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing
Solstice elevates social and affordable housing for local seniors on the Redcliffe Peninsula. Organised around a landscaped north facing courtyard, the project draws natural light and ventilation into the circulation and plan. Significantly, the Clients have supported the Architects in a number of ‘critical surrenders’ which have adjusted the ultimate yields but allowed for a series of celebrated shared social gathering moments within the building. The inclusion of these spaces adds real vitality to the occupation of the building and the experience of living on the bay. A loose but controlled geometry creates a genuine sense of organic social space. The clever open circulation pathways encourage individual occupants to engage with the spaces beyond their door thresholds. Designed to Livable Housing Australia Gold and Platinum standards, the apartments enable ageing in place with dignity and independence, and the occupants remain an integral part of the local community.
In Solstice, Arkhefield have delivered purpose-designed homes for over-55 residents that align with BHC’s vision of empowering lives. Inclusive, user-centric design provides safe, secure and dignified living environments that support independence and enable ageing in place, while reducing future retrofit needs for our operations team. Welcoming communal spaces encourage positive social interaction, connection and foster belonging. Unit entries offer opportunities for personalisation and a sense of arrival ‘home’. Residents’ experiences reflect this impact: Mary feels Solstice is “her place,” Casey says she “hit the jackpot,” and Jenny values the thoughtful details that make her home work for her.
Andrew Gutteridge, Director, Architect (BOAQ 2710)
Zoe Ridgway, Project Director, Architect (BOAQ 3901)
Mark Walker, Project Architect
Izak Hollins, Architect
Kirsti Tenni, Interior Designer
Jonathan Morehen, Interior Designer
Emma Smith, Graduate of Architecture
Leah Hartley, Graduate of Architecture
Peter Rudledge, Graphic Designer
BHC Creating Liveable Communities, Client
Delivery by a BHC-QIC consortium, funding provided by the Queensland Government, financing provided by Housing Australia and the Australian Retirement Trust, Funding Partners
TSA Riley, Project Manager
RPS, Town Planner
Aptus, Building Certifier
Inertia, Structural and Civil Engineer
WalkerBai, Building Services and Fire Engineer
Colliers, Traffic Consultant
Ecolateral, ESD Consultant
Wild Studios, Landscape Consultant