Evergreen House – Whare Katoa has now moved from vision to reality. What began as a project to demonstrate the power of Universal Design has become a place of belonging for seven tenants, each with their own story, each now calling this space “home.”

A Journey Completed

Earlier this year, we shared the progress of Evergreen House as construction neared completion. Since then, the doors have opened, the tenants have moved in, and a new community has begun to flourish. Evergreen House – Whare Katoa was developed by the Jabez Initiative Charity in partnership with Te Puke Baptist Church, which gifted the land that the development sits on.

The official opening of Evergreen House in August was marked by generosity from Te Puke Baptist Church and the wider community. Guests contributed pantry items for each tenant, filling every pantry with 35 essentials, and the tenants responded with a heartfelt thank‑you card – a gesture that underscored just how much their new home means to them.

For Lifemark®, this project represents more than design standards. It shows how thoughtful, accessible housing can transform lives.

“Seeing Evergreen House literally come to life over the course of 2025 has been truly life‑giving,” says Amy Cumming, a Jabez Initiative director. “We have seven deserving tenants who now call this place ‘home’, and it has been an absolute joy to get to know them all a little over the last couple of months and watch them begin to connect with each other and flourish.”

Adjacent to the development, there is a shared space named Eden Community Gardens, which is now supplying an abundance of fresh vegetables to the tenants.

“This space has become a daily meeting place for several of the tenants and it’s wonderful to see a small, vibrant community beginning to form,” says Te Puke Baptist Pastor Josiah Carr. “The completed Evergreen House building has far surpassed our expectations, and we couldn’t be happier with how it’s all come together.”

Design That Makes a Difference

The completed Evergreen House has surpassed expectations, embodying the principles of Universal Design that Lifemark® champions. From the outset, accessibility and usability were at the heart of the project, and tenants’ feedback shows just how much these features matter in everyday life:

• Ease of access: Car parking close to front doors, clearly labelled rubbish storage, and footpaths leading directly to the supermarket make daily routines simple and stress‑free.
• Spacious interiors: Large bedrooms accommodate walkers with ease, while the generous bathroom and laundry space has left tenants “blown away.”
• Thoughtful details: Grab rails and shower seats provide stability, double sliders open onto private decks, and manageable section sizes give tenants their own green space.
• Quality and comfort: Easy‑to‑clean fittings, durable finishes, and a sense of home that tenants describe as “simply brilliant.”

“It’s wonderful to see a small, vibrant community beginning to form; and to know that the design choices we made are enabling tenants to live more independently and with greater confidence,” says Amy.

Looking Ahead

Evergreen House is a powerful example of what happens when Universal Design is embedded from the very beginning. For Lifemark®, it reflects the values we bring to every project: homes that are safe, practical, and life‑enhancing, and communities where people can thrive.

We are proud to have contributed to a development that not only meets accessibility standards but also enriches lives. Evergreen House stands alongside many other projects across New Zealand that demonstrate how thoughtful design can foster independence, dignity, and connection – and we look forward to continuing this work with partners who share our vision.