Later Living & Care
Later living is our specialism. We have spent decades designing retirement villages, extra care and care homes, and we design for how they work once people move in.
Led by Anne-Marie Nicholson, one of the most experienced later living architects in the UK, we bring the knowledge of a large specialist team with the focus of a small studio. Every scheme balances the needs of the people who will live there, the operators who will run it and the developers who need it to perform.
- 28yearsAnne-Marie Nicholson’s experience designing for later living
- 14,500later living homes and care spaces delivered under her leadership
- 1,830+integrated retirement community homes designed by amn since 2024
- 1,950+care beds designed by amn since 2024
- 30+feasibility studies completed since 2024
Balancing every agenda
Every later living development has three sets of priorities. The developer needs a viable scheme, built to programme and budget. The operator needs a building their teams can run efficiently, day and night, for decades. The residents need a place where they are proud to live and that feels like home.
These agendas compete, and imbalance often creeps in at the early design stage, when development pressures dominate. We take pride in balancing them from the first sketch, so the finished project works for everyone.
Designing for the people who live there
Everything we design starts with people. We think about how residents move, see, remember and socialise as they age — and how a building can support their independence, confidence and wellbeing rather than getting in the way.
Through site visits and post-occupancy evaluations we understand how retirement villages are used in practice, and feed those lessons into every new scheme.
Our design principles
Six principles shape the approach we take on every project.
Legibility
Places that are easy to read and find your way around, with clear routes, landmarks and views out.
Individuality
Homes with their own identity, which residents can make their own.
Security
Residents feel safe and in control, at home and in the spaces they share.
Familiarity
Domestic forms, materials and settings that feel like home and help people orientate themselves.
Community
Shared spaces that make it easy to meet, join in and look out for one another.
Accessibility
Step-free, inclusive environments that adapt as residents’ needs change.
Principles in practice
We get into the detail at every stage, so nothing gets assumed and nothing gets lost. Our principles shape every room, down to the height of an oven and the position of a light switch.
Later living apartments
Our typical apartment brings familiarity, individuality and accessibility together.
Shaping the sector
We contribute to this emerging sector through design guidance, research, public speaking and international learning.
Design guidance
Anne-Marie wrote Homes for the Third Age, co-authored the Housing LIN factsheet Design Principles for Extra Care Housing, and has compiled design guides for organisations including RBKC, Orbit, Abbeyfield, Amicala and Auriens.
Award-winning experience
As a Senior Partner at PRP, Anne-Marie grew one of the UK's most successful later living teams. As UK Principal of Life3A she won Architect of the Year at the Senior Health Investor Awards 2023.
Speaking and networks
We speak at sector events including Retirement Living & Care UK and the Urban Living Festival, and Anne-Marie has chaired Women in Retirement Living (WiRL) panels. We are affiliate members of ARCO and corporate members of WiRL.
International knowledge
Anne-Marie's work across Europe, Australasia, Cyprus and India brings international best practice to UK schemes — from visits to Ryman Healthcare in New Zealand and Opal Aged Care in Australia, to design work for Solvita in Spain and Berta’s Village in Cyprus.
Design guides
Anne-Marie has written and co-authored design guidance used across the sector, as well as guides for operators and housing providers including Orbit, Abbeyfield, Amicala and Auriens.
Homes for the Third Age
A design guide for extra care sheltered housing. David Robson, Anne-Marie Nicholson and Neil Barker (E & FN Spon).
Design Principles for Extra Care Housing
Housing LIN Factsheet 6, 3rd edition (2020). Clare Cameron, Anne-Marie Nicholson and Jenny Buterchi.
Older People’s Housing Design Guidance
For the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (2015).
What our clients say
“Anne-Marie and the team should be commended on the work produced, as it is a comprehensive and well considered Stage 2 design. The collaborative process and environment that you formed has resulted in a quality piece of work!”
Phil RolfeDevelopment Director — Audley Group “Anne-Marie has been a high profile and influential figure in the retirement community sector for over a decade… Technically skilled, emotionally intelligent and always approachable, her soft skills are always blended with a hard and sharp intellect, and a depth and breadth of knowledge that delivers results.”
Lex CumberSales Director — Untold Living “The team were a pleasure to work with throughout, combining a deep understanding of the end customer with an ambitious and creative urban design and architectural response.”
Simon BeckDevelopment Manager — Related Argent
Our later living work
All projects →
Let's discuss your next opportunity
Whether you're reviewing a potential acquisition, preparing a planning strategy or looking for an architectural partner for your next development, we'd be pleased to discuss how we can help.
We believe successful developments begin with confident decisions — and we're here to help you make them.
