Arvida has introduced a way to showcase retirement living to seniors, even if the village hasn't been built yet.
Experiencing a retirement village before moving in can mean taking a tour and exploring the grounds, but there’s a problem if the village isn’t built yet.
That’s where technology comes in. Over-65s have been stepping inside Arvida’s new Lincoln Plains retirement community, that’s still under development, through a full virtual reality (VR) experience.
“It was fantastic, I was really impressed. It really gave you the effect of being there and what the villas would look like, the sense of space and beautiful decoration. You can’t get that from a book or catalogue,” said Catherine Ogden after wearing the VR headset at the recent SWELL Seniors Lifestyle Expo in Rolleston.
Using the power of virtual reality, two of the planned villas were transformed into immersive, to-scale 3D environments. Prospective residents freely walk through the spaces or move seamlessly between rooms using a web app guided by Arvida’s team.
The first phase of villas at Arvida Lincoln Plains are expected to be completed by early 2026. Arvida Chief Executive, Jeremy Nicoll, said it is the first time this kind of technology has been used in this way in New Zealand to help older people explore villas before construction.
“VR really gives potential retirement village residents a good sense of the size and scale of a new home. This tool helps bridge the gap between plans on paper and the lived experience, making decision-making easier and more meaningful,” Nicoll said.
The tool has been built by New Zealand's award-winning game and VR studio, Beyond Studios, which has developed VR solutions for schools, healthcare, and for entertainment.
The VR tool will be available at upcoming Lincoln Plains events. Register your interest now for the Arvida Lincoln Plains community, and the team will be in contact to let you know when you can experience the digital world of a villa.
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