Copenhagen studio NORD Architects drew on analysis into the constructed atmosphere’s affect on folks with dementia for the Alzheimer’s Village in Dax, the primary undertaking of its form in France.
Awarded by way of a contest in 2016, the studio’s design references the city format of Dax’s outdated city to create a way of familiarity for its residents, with a communal “market sq.” wrapped by concrete arcades at its centre.
“When designing for folks with dementia, the place the lack of cognitive talents is likely one of the major facets of residing with the situation, we design with the intention to assist them in the absolute best method,” NORD Architects companion Morten Rask Gregersen informed Dezeen.
“The design of the bodily atmosphere due to this fact depends on an concept of readability or recognition the place easy design concepts and components assist the affected person as their state and talents change over time,” he continued.
The Alzheimer’s Village, which the studio stated is “the primary care house in France for folks with dementia,” is organised into 4 clusters.
Every of those homes round 30 residents and has its personal devoted amenities and courtyard.
To the north, the principle sq. is surrounded by acquainted features, together with a grocer, hairdresser and restaurant, that are meant to deliver a way of “recognisable day-to-day-life” to the village.
Modelled on the typology of a “bastide” – a kind of fortified city that may be discovered close by – concrete arches encompass the village’s major sq., creating extra shaded, non-public areas across the fountains and seating areas at its centre.
All through the village, timber plank cladding, plaster and pitched, clay-tiled roofs had been additionally meant to evoke types and textures that may be acquainted to residents.
“The concept of making an atmosphere that the customers can recognise led us to a contextual evaluation of the close by villages, the place we skilled the arch motive is recurring motive within the outdated city squares in a typology known as a ‘bastide’,” Gregersen stated.
“The selection of supplies can underline the thought of the recognisable atmosphere, so we once more seemed on the native supplies that the longer term residents can be used to in their very own houses,” he added.
Establishing a closeness to nature was additionally key to NORD Architects’ design, with a small lake and timber in the course of the location surrounded by a looping path and gardens with aromatic flowers to have a “stimulating impact”.
The Alzheimer’s Village in Dax was lately shortlisted within the well being and wellbeing undertaking class of Dezeen Awards 2023.
Earlier healthcare initiatives by NORD Architects embody a hospice for palliative care in Copenhagen, which options golden facades and curved cutouts that create quiet courtyards.
The images is courtesy of NORD Architects.
