H O M E: H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship 2018 Monica Leung

H
O
M H. ALLEN BROOKS
TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP
E
2018
MONICA LEUNG
H. ALLEN
BROOKS TRAVELLING
FELLOWSHIP
The H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship was
established in 2011 by Professor H. Allen Brooks,
a distinguished architectural historian who was an
authority on Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. In
his legacy, Professor Brooks established three H. Allen
Brooks Travelling Fellowships — to Dartmouth College,
the Society of Architectural Historians, and to Dalhousie
University. The fellowship is not for the purpose of
doing research for an advanced academic degree or
publication. Instead, the H. Allen Brooks Travelling
Fellowship supports study by travel and contemplation
while observing, sketching, reading, or writing, and
having free time to think and mature while acquiring
knowledge useful for the award holder’s future work, and
contribution to the profession and society.
2 3
HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

Image credit: Barbara Nettleton.
2018 H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship

CONTENTS
Introduction 7
Aging: A View Across Countries 9
Themes Uncovered 21
Reflections 69
Selected Projects 73
References 114
More Resources 114
Acknowledgements 115
4 5

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all images and drawings are by the author.
LEFT: In his thesis project at the
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts,
Robert Martin maps the geographic
segregation of aging evident in
Sydney, Australia, illustrating how
elders in society are pushed to the
peripheries.
INTRODUCTION
The well-documented reality of a swift and global shift developed at the peripheries of rural and urban
in social demographics underlines a timely need to landscapes. Seen altogether, the resulting geography
address the impact of an increasingly aging population. of aging can reinforce the social isolation of seniors and
The results of the 2016 Canadian census confirm that begin to place them out of our collective imagination. As
indeed, the number of seniors in our population have many institutional models find their basis from a medical
now outpaced children. By 2026, it is projected that perspective, these often emphasize the failings of old
there will be 12 million seniors in Canada, in comparison age, instead of placing the abilities of older individuals at
to 8 million children.1 All these facts have led many the forefront.
to question how we will respond to such significant
changes in our societal makeup which strongly underpin This Fellowship focuses instead on searching for
our social infrastructure. The wide-ranging effects alternatives to the norm - in both urban and architectural
on care demands, taxation base, and housing easily form, as well as the process and implementation of
come to mind. But by considering that “old age” may housing for elders. The desire to complement the
now span a period of almost 30 years, this brings into existing discussion with a wider framework seeks
question the prevailing concepts of retirement and the better methods to support the majority of elders who
role of elders in our community. do not require high levels of care. Alternative housing
arrangements which integrate elders into the community
From the lens of an architect, the design of the built strategically address the steep financial costs of
environment poses many opportunities to better institutional care while unlocking a greater imagination of
6 support the aging process. In particular, finding ways older age than is currently held. 7
to successfully interface between housing, care,
and community can form a significant component in Another endeavour of this Fellowship is to identify
mediating this demographic shift. With the value of key architectural features which contribute to the
a training and practice which encompasses a multi- design excellence of housing for the elderly. Ultimately,
disciplinary approach to environmental design, the when speaking of elder housing, we must not forget

architectural profession is well-equipped to contribute that we are dealing with the most private spaces of
its voice in shaping this ongoing discussion. Through individuals. The shaping of personal agency and dignity
the opportunity offered by the H. Allen Brooks Travelling in space becomes a key challenge in face of the often
Fellowship, I was able to investigate approaches to elder overlapping needs of care and community.
housing from a cross-cultural perspective made through
The resulting geography of a year-long study in travel, represented by reading, Lastly, it is important to understand that guiding the
writing, photography, and drawing. realization of any successful project is a well-functioning
aging can reinforce the social process and implementation. Just as important as
isolation of seniors and begin to Until recently, typologies of institutional, long-term
care models have dominated much of the architectural
studying a project’s architecture is speaking to its
people. Without this balanced view, the risk is a one-
place them out of our collective discussion in Canada. These are often characterized dimensional understanding.
as large-scale complexes, typically requiring greater
Image courtesy of Robert Martin. imagination. parcels of land for implementation, and are often
Canada 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 japan 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
AGING: A VIEW ACROSS COUNTRIES
The increase in aging population is an issue facing many LEFT + BELOW: An overview of
all the projects studied during
countries in the world today. To critically address the the travel fellowship. Maintaining
impact of this major demographic shift, we can stand to diversity in approaches to elder
learn from both the successes and failures of differing housing is critical, but this mapping
23 24 uk 25 26 denmark 27 28 responses sought by other countries. As a country exercise also illustrates a greater
need for projects which address the
marked by its diversity, the opportunity to identify “missing middle,” where housing
overlapping and shared experiences between Canada and care overlap.
and other cultures no doubt exists. Therefore, as a
structure to the Fellowship, it was important to identify
nether- countries worth investigating, to understand the various
29 30 31 32 lands 33 34 35 factors which inform its cultural approach to aging, MAIN STREAM HOUSING Independent living
and to evaluate the resulting built environment which
Independent living which addresses
supports this process. The summary which follows AGE-FRIENDLY HOUSING specific needs of ability across ages
elaborates on why particular countries were chosen for
Independent / semi-independent
study and the salient features of each which influence AGE-FRIENDLY HOUSING
living with optional support for daily
their approaches to aging. (WITH ASSISTANCE)
activities
36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 ELDER-SPECIFIC HOUSING Dependent living with care staff and
Images credits -1: Boyne Valley Hostel Corporation; 2: Niverville Heritage Centre; 4: Housebrand; 5: University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental (WITH CARE) support for daily activities
Design; 7. Eitaro Hirota; 9: Shape Architecture;
8 9
COLLECTIVE
33 Haarlemmer Housing
34 L.A. Rieshuis
30 Fredensborg Houses 03 Southeast Personal Care Home
09 Union Street ECOHeritage
HOUSING
25 Windmill Court
15 Moriyama House
40 Diagoon Housing 26 Chobham Manor 41 De Plussenburgh 42 Residence Roosenburch
INDIVIDUAL

20 Kitagata Housing 10 House on Ancaster Creek 21 IDU Terrace 24 Kenyuen Home for the Elderly
37 Borneo Sporenburg
04 FAB House 39 De Drie Hoven
11 Nagakin Capsule Tower 36 IJ Burg Housing
MAINSTREAM HOUSING AGE-FRIENDLY HOUSING AGE-FRIENDLY HOUSING WITH ASSISTANCE ELDER-SPECIFIC HOUSING WITH CARE
23 Tondaya Machiya
INDIVIDUAL
17 Yoshibumi Machiya 05 Laneway House

Prototypes
HOUSING +
14 Nezu Withus
13 Hillside Terrace
01 Boyne Lodge Personal Care
12 Shinonome Canal Housing 07 Nikkei Place 19 Gojikara Mura
06 Vancouver Cohousing 43 Humanitas Bergweg 02 Niverville Heritage Center 35 De Hogeweyk
COLLECTIVE
08 Windsong Cohousing 27 Højen 32 Farum Midtpunkt 16 Mutsukawa Day Care 18 Share Kanazawa 31 Generations House
38 Het Schip 29 Egebakken 22 Kamigyo Day Care 28 Diakonissestiftelsen
SMALL LARGE SMALL LARGE SMALL LARGE SMALL LARGE

Canada
It was imperative to form a base understanding of the
current conditions, issues, and challenges encountered
in Canada in order for meaningful comparison to be
made during travel.
• With a national identity often linked to multiculturalism,

it was not surprising to find that the major backbone of
elder housing found in Canada is through a large variety
of cultural groups, linked sometimes to religious groups.
These seek to address specificity in needs within innate,
existing community groups.
• Increases in housing prices in certain urban centres are

influencing a trend towards densification and a return to
a multigenerational approach which mixes mainstream
and elder housing. These are seen in both individual
buildings as well as laneway additions.
• Availability of universal health care and home care

services incentivize elders to “age-in-place”, often
resulting in the formation of naturally occurring
retirement communities.
• A medicalized approach still pervades the current

landscape of elder housing in Canada, which prioritizes
care over built environment, without an appreciation
that a balance of both can enrich the lived experience
of aging. This is reflected in institutions which resemble
traditional hospital architecture. Generic spaces and
double-loaded “horridors” are commonplace features.
ABOVE + RIGHT: Southeast

10 Personal Care Home is the first of
11
its kind in Winnipeg to serve the
long term needs of First Nations,
Métis and Inuit elderly. Located
adjacent to an existing school and
residence for First Nations youth,
intergenerational interaction is

fostered to support the culture and
heritage of students and residents.
The single floor structure speaks
to the importance placed on the
relationship with the ground, in First
Nations culture.
FAR RIGHT: View of the multi- Southeast Personal Southeast collegiate

purpose hall at Nikkei Place in Care Home
Burnaby, an intergenerational [winnipeg, canada]
complex for the Japanese
community. The museum and
community centre serve as a place
for gathering across the larger
Japanese community, and forms an
anchor point in the project.
Image courtesy of Eitaro Hirota.

Japan
Japan currently stands as the largest aging population
in the world with more than 30% of its population over
60 years old.2 Due to its strict immigration policies, this
demographic change is progressing more rapidly. The
Japanese cultural landscape provides several unique
conditions which have impacted their theories on
housing.
• Layered spaces in built form are culturally important

for demarcating transitions between private and public
realms. This sensitivity towards threshold sequences
inspires architectural designs which preserve dignity,
negotiating between spaces of individual agency and
spaces of support or connection.
• Despite the grand scale of major Japanese cities,

their urban fabric shows a fine grain of mixed use
neighbourhoods formed around historic roji lanes.
Valued for the community-building which this type of
urban form enables, care policy and planning in Japan
have prioritized the development of senior day / service
centres within these neighbourhood districts.
•The spatial constraints of Japanese cities have fostered

a history of flexible housing typologies which places
more importance to land than building. The post-war
building boom also valued short-term solutions which
resulted in a culture of adaptation and renewal of small
scale elements. Both factors have laid fertile ground for
experimental approaches to housing which shifts with
changing conditions, capturing the spirit of designing for
aging.
• The connection between built environment and nature

is highly valued in Japanese culture. The sensitivity in
incorporating these links in elder housing are exemplary.
12 13
ABOVE: Historic roji lanes form the

framework underlying the fine grain
of mixed use neighbourhoods found

in many major Japanese cities.
Their scale and density engender
the tight-knit communities and
districts which formed around them.
This urban form underscores an
emphasis on the development of
senior day / service centre centres
in Japan, which capitalize on the ABOVE + LEFT: Moriyama House
inherent qualities of these existing experiments with how the spatial
neighbourhoods. experience of roji lanes can be
incorporated into the idea of a
RIGHT: Layered threshold house. The conventional, singular
sequences are typical of Japanese volume of a house is broken into
design. In a lane in Karaguzawa, several units, opening up the
Tokyo, the layers of an entrance possibility for multiple and layered
are shown here to exist even within occupancies.
extremely tight property lines. roji lane in kagurazaka district moriyama house- ryue nishizawa
[tokyo, japan] [tokyo, japan]
Denmark & the Netherlands
With histories as welfare states, Denmark and the
Netherlands have developed cultural attitudes which
have impacted its approach to architecture, exemplifying
a focus on social inclusion and social welfare. Not
surprisingly, both countries are recognized leaders in the
field of architecture for aging.
• Building quality, affordable housing represents a

major portion of the housing sector in Denmark and
the Netherlands, offering an important counterpoint in
approach to elder housing which can often skew toward
luxury.
• Social equality and the sharing of household

responsibilities led to the emergence of cohousing as
an alternate housing typology, originating in the 1960’s
and more currently, new models for intergenerational
housing3. This form of collective living derives from
strongly embedded cultural processes of self-
organization, collaboration, and joint decision-making
which enable these types of development.
• Heavy state-funding for elder care has had both

obvious benefits and unforeseen drawbacks. A major
emphasis on home care services for elders with low
care demands has encouraged continued residence in
their own communities which has shown to have known
social benefits.
• The resulting elder care landscape is one where “care

homes” (as we may know them in Canada) are mainly
reserved for individuals with severe health issues,
typically with dementia.
• However, because the Netherlands has historically

strongly subsidized the development of institutional care
homes for the elderly, this sudden shift in policy has left
14 cities struggling to manage this transition. It has also left 15
a generation unaccustomed to multigenerational living.
LEFT + ABOVE: Farum Midtpunkt

was developed in the 1970s as

a social housing complex with
a strong community focus. It is
anchored at its west side by a
service spine and a public floating
walkway. The unique character of
the interstitial spaces are defined
by the irregularity in positioning
of the housing blocks. As part
of the shifting demographics of
its community and to address
financial needs, two blocks have
been converted to senior dwellings
with the lower floors rented out to
physiotherapy and elder care. This
has allowed seniors to continue to
farum midtpunkt - ramboll architects
age in place through an informal
[farum, denmark] network of support.
LEFT: The articulated streetscape
16 developed for the Haarlemmer
17
Houttuinen Housing demonstrates
the type of design quality seen
in affordable housing in the
Netherlands.
MIDDLE: The iconic Het Schip

social housing complex was built
in response to the Dutch National
Housing Act passed in 1901. The
design focuses on improving living
conditions of the working class,
while cross-programming was
introduced by mixing a post-office
and school with housing.
RIGHT: The structuralist method

employed at De Drie Hoven nursing
home represents an ideal order
of the past. At a literal level, the
spacing of structural columns which
define entry thresholds to individual
haarlemmer houttuinen housing - herman hertzberger het schip - michel de klerk de drie hoven - herman hertzberger units are outdated and fail to meet
[amsterdam, netherlands] [amsterdam, netherlands] [amsterdam, netherlands] current code requirements.
CANADA JAPAN
C O M M U N I T Y I N S T I T U T I O N C O M M U N I T Y I N S T I T U T I O N
INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE
95 95
Apartments / Condominiums
Senior Specific Residences

85 85
Two-Generation Apartments
Personal / Long-Term
Single Family House
Single Family House

Multi-generational
TYPOLOGY
TYPOLOGY
Supportive Housing
Supportive Living
HOUSING
HOUSING
Adaptable House
Condominiums /
Senior Specific
Assisted Living
Accesible House
Palliative Care
Silver Housing
Nisetai Jutaka
75 75
Group Homes
Apartmemts
Nursing Home
Palliative Care
Residences
Co-housing
Care Home
Housing
Hospice
Hospice
65 65
55 55
AGE
AGE
STRATEGIES
STRATEGIES
Day Care / Service

Laneway House
URBAN
URBAN
45 Campus of Care 45 Village Models
NORCS
NORCS
Centres
35 Village Model 35
25 25
MODELS
MODELS
CARE
CARE
Home Care
15 Green House 15
Small Group Home Care Institutional Care
Chez Nous
05 Eden Alternative
05
PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE
OF SENIORS
OF SENIORS
4 2 0 2 4 4 2 0 2 4
PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE
93% 7% 98% 2%
[2016] 7.8 9.1 16.9% of population are seniors [2016] 11.7 15.3 27.0% of the population are seniors
[2036] 11.8 12.7 24.5% of population will be seniors [2036] 10.5 18.1 28.6% of the population will be seniors
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION
65+ 65+
DENMARK NETHERLANDS
C O M M U N I T Y I N S T I T U T I O N C O M M U N I T Y I N S T I T U T I O N
INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE
95 95

Adaptable House / Lifetime
Multigenerational Housing
Multigenerational Housing
85 85
Single Family House
Single Family House

TYPOLOGY
TYPOLOGY
HOUSING
HOUSING
Apartments for Life

Extra Care Housing
Senior Co-housing
Supportive Living
Adaptable House
Assisted Living
Palliative Care
Palliative Care
75 75
Nursing Home
Co-housing
Hospice
Hospice
Homes
65 65
18 55 55 19
STRATEGIES
AGE
AGE
STRATEGIES
Local Service Area
Integrated Service
URBAN
Activity Centers
Neighbourhood
45 45
Service Center
URBAN
Campus of Care WoZoCo
Areas
35 35 Village Model
25 25

MODELS
CARE
Buurtzorg
15 15
MODELS
CARE
Home Care Institutional Care Home Care

Insitutional Care
05 05
PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE
OF SENIORS
OF SENIORS
4 2 0 2 4 4 2 0 2 4
PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE
96% 4% 97% 3%
[2016] 8.8 10.3 19.1% of population are seniors [2016] 12.8 10.2 23.0% of population are seniors
[2036] 11.5 12.8 24.3% of population will be seniors [2036] 11.6 18.1 29.7% of population will be seniors
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION
65+ 65+ ABOVE: National portraits of demographics, built environment
strategies, and care models illustrate the similarities and differences in
the aging situation facing each country. Twenty year projections in age
pyramids undeline the urgency of the demographic shift. 4
Image credits - 3. ERIK Arkitekter; 5. De
Hogeweyk.
1 2 THEMES UNCOVERED
One of the major challenges underscoring the study of to generate a more appropriate architectural language
this topic is its utter vastness. As an issue which lies and toolkit for addressing the topic. Working in this
at the intersection of multiple disciplines - healthcare, manner acknowledges the experience gained and the
policy, urban design, and architecture, to name a few - opportunity for further growth in understanding.
finding appropriate solutions entails navigating across
overlapping agendas and perspectives. While it was The themes uncovered include:
necessary to cast a wide net in understanding the
extents of the topic, it was also important to narrow the 1. Reduction in scale
focus with relevance to architecture. Namely, the hope 2. Creating community
was to search for projects which demonstrate both 3. Diversity and resilience
architectural design excellence as well as innovation in 4. Layered transitions
process. 5. Sense of home
6. Amplification of daylight
Reflecting on early travels in Canada, it became 7. Connection to nature
apparent that focusing on a specific typology would 8. Collaborative partnerships
not be an appropriate method for addressing the issue.
Housing, whether mainstream or elder-specific, is an The projects studied throughout the fellowship serve
3 4 5 extremely personal choice. There cannot exist a singular as exemplary references for these various themes
response that dictates how elders (people) should live. and illuminate their differentiated explorations through
20 As a culmination of the knowledge gained from a year architectural design. More fulsome descriptions of key, 21
of travel, it is important to convey how the discussion of selected projects follow these thematic discussions,
architectural design for elder housing can be widened in providing more context and insights.
its mindset and approach, beyond a focus purely on the
buildings studied.

As I stepped back to survey the many projects
encountered through my travels, I began to uncover a
set of recurrent themes, guiding much of the success
of the buildings I had seen. The surprising clarity in
the emergent themes of the projects, despite range of
typology and specificities of history and culture, was
resounding.
These themes help to reposition the approaches and

practices in the design of elder housing without fixating
on specificities of form and type. This is to caution
6 7 8
against a culture of blind mimicry without sensitivity
towards contextual application. In doing so, the aim is
Reducing the scale, or at least the perceived scale, of Even in larger residences, efforts are made to scale
elder housing matters. In the majority of the projects down living configurations so that no more than 10
visited, this formed a key component to normalizing individuals live together in one area, recreating the
the spatial experience, especially when the residence feeling of a “house”. These are often promoted in
incorporates care services. With a smaller, domestic projects for dementia-specific residents, such as De
scale, familiarity of home can be recreated. Hogeweyk or the Green House Model, but were also
seen in more general application at IDU Terrace and
Several projects accomplished this through their overall Kenyuen Home for the Elderly. Both residents and
massing by increasing porosity and the creation of “in- caregivers interviewed indicated their preference for
between spaces.” this type of arrangement which necessitates a strategic
approach to ensure financial viability.
• At IDU Terrace [p.86], the use of outdoor patios create
views through the building and to its surrounding One of the rules of thumb quoted by many care
scenery. operators of elder housing is to keep in mind the number
of people who would fit around a dining table. This
• At Generations House [p.102], spaces were introduced natural method of sizing a gathering enables people
between the 8 major apartment blocks through living together to actually get to know each other. Even
terraces and glazed gathering spaces. in projects where people live independently, such as in
the senior cohousing communities, individuals got to
• At De Hogeweyk [p.110], a series of courtyards are know their immediate neighbours better on a daily basis.
laid out to divide the complex into separate “houses
Similarly, other projects achieve a smaller scale by

employing a collection of lower rise and densely
distributed housing units.
• At Diakonissestiftelsen [p. 98], 6 low-rise senior

apartment blocks step down from 4 to 2 stories
as they transition from the existing complex to the
surrounding residential neighbourhood.
• Senior cohousing communities of Egebakken

and Herfra til Evigheden [p.106] are another classic
example of low rise, high density housing.
REDUCTION IN SCALE
herfra til evigheden - vandkunsten architects
[roskilde, denmark]
22 23

LEFT + ABOVE: The desire to
reduce the scale of elder housing
can be seen in many of the projects
idu terrace - murumatsu architects generations house - erik arkitekter diakonissestiftelsen senior apartments - vandkunsten studied abroad. The various
[mishima, japan] [aarhus, denmark] [copenhagen, denmark] methods for achieving this reduction
are exemplifed by these concept
sketches.
RIGHT + BELOW:
At Diakonissestiftelsen, 6 low-
rise senior apartment blocks step
down from 4 to 2 stories as they
transition from the existing complex
to the surrounding residential
neighbourhood.
diakonissestiftelsen senior apartments - vandkunsten

Image courtesy of Vandkunsten.
[copenhagen, denmark]
24 25
Private Space
Semi-Public / Public Space

(Interior)
Public Space
(Exterior)
Diakonissestiftelsen IDU Terrace HERFRA TIL EVIGHEDEN Egbakken De Hogeweyk Generations House LEFT: At various scales, the
Copenhagen, Denmark Mishima, Japan Roskilde, Denmark Nødebo, Denmark Weesp, Netherlands Aarhus, Denmark projects of elder housing studied
Senior Housing Nursing Home Senior Cohousing Senior Cohousing Dementia Nursing Home Multigenerational Housing demonstrate how the design of
spatial configurations can approach
a more familiar domestic scale.
These comparative diagrams
illustrate how different projects have
balanced the distribution of private
and semi-public / public spaces in
0 5 10 20 50m this effort.
26 27

TOP + LEFT: Porosity in the building
typical floor plan
mass of IDU Terrace is introduced
Drawing courtesy of Muramatsu Architects.
through exterior patios, which
also help to create a greater visual
connection to its surroundings.
Reducing the scale of elder housing also helps to foster resident lifestyles or interests. This categorization
community development. This sense of belonging, to permeates throughout the design of the interiors and
buffer against social isolation, is an instrumental part down to the food planning of each house.
of healthy aging and was the most resounding refrain
from every senior resident with whom I had a chance • At the Koge development, currently undergoing
to speak. Many older residents who have moved into planning initiated by Realdania, the project’s seaside
collective-living arrangements describe their initial location draws on the specificity of place and history
hesitations of moving away from their own homes. to draw on the maritime lifestyle of local residents.
However, since living in community-oriented residences,
every resident I spoke with expressed how happy they From the community-oriented elder housing
were to have made the choice for change and wished developments I had a chance to tour, they have typically
they had done so earlier. fallen under two general approaches. Some have
opted to create large complexes or campuses which
Studies have also shown that elders who have integrate a wide-range of programming. The aim of
developed a robust network of social capital are cross-programming is to create synergies amongst
correlated, to a larger extent, with aging well.5 Even more complementary functions and to look beyond just
recently, loneliness has been cited as a strong predictor the residents which these serve to integrate with their
of premature death. With government research citing surrounding community. This has involved adding
how approximately 200,000 elders have not conversed supportive spaces and programming such as:
with a family member or friend in more than a month, UK
has come so far as to create a Minister of Loneliness in • kindergarten or daycares
January 2018.6 • social spaces that can be leased out or shared
on a short term basis such as event spaces and
• At Realdania [p.65], this desire for social connection auditoriums
was also the conclusion drawn in their research • commercial spaces that are leased out on a long
which now supports their “Rooms and Communities term basis such as restaurants, cafes, and stores
for Seniors” initiative in the development of senior
housing communities throughout Denmark. This type of approach can be seen at projects such as
the Gojikara Mura village, a multigenerational complex
Residences that have a strong community component near Nagoya in Japan; Niverville Heritage Centre a
look for ways to enable individuals to meet formally and community hub for the rural town just south of Winnipeg;
informally through various means of similar interests the Diakonissestiftelsen [p.98], a foundation which
which create shared opportunities for active living. recently developed 47 senior dwelling units within their
existing multidisciplinary complex which combines elder
• At De Hogeweyk [p.110], the overall “dementia village” and youth housing, health care and education, as well as
CREATING COMMUNITY
is broken down into various houses according to community commercial opportunities.
28 29

ABOVE + LEFT: As part of their
“Development Plan 2020”,
senior dwellings were developed
at the Diakonissestiftelsen to
transition from the larger, existing,
insititutional buildings of the
foundation to the surrounding
neighbourhood in a manner which
opens up the overall complex to
the larger community. Within these
housing blocks, attention was
paid to the design of the central
circulation atrium as the space of
social encounter. Visual connection
site section circulation ATRIUM diagram between floors and daylighting deep
diakonissestiftelsen senior apartments - vandkunsten architects diakonissestiftelsen senior apartments - vandkunsten architects into the core highlight and celebrate
[copenhagen, denmark] [copenhagen, denmark] the daily rituals of movement.
For these projects, the design of the in-between
spaces is just as important as the individual buildings
themselves. Allowing for visual as well as physical
connections helps to facilitate the possibilities for
informal and formal gathering

Some of the challenges which face these large
campuses is the tendency for them to be land-intensive.
Typically, these are made possible by large organizations
or foundations which allow for more innate cohesion. It
is important in these situations to encourage outreach
beyond an internalized community to the larger
neighbourhood beyond. Good connections to services
and transportation serve to prevent physical segregation
and isolation.
KAMIGYO DAYCARE CENTRE union street ecoheritage Diakonissestiftelsen Another means of working from a community approach
Kyoto, Japan Vancouver, Canada Copenhagen, Denmark is to reconsider the existing fabric of residential
Senior Daycare Centre Multigenerational Housing Senior Housing
neighbourhoods to increase density and foster collective
living with elders in situ.
• At the Union Street ECOHeritage project in the

Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver, the owner
and developers turned two existing houses into 6
units and a townhouse.
• At the University of Calgary [p.74], professor John

Brown explores the possibilities of creating a
deployable laneway house for the elderly, so that
they can remain close with their families in their own
neighbourhood.
• At the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the thesis

project of Robert Martin explores the possibilities of
improving the urban planning guidelines in Sydney
de hogeweyk windmill court niverville heritage centre to allow for collective infill housing as a response to
Weesp, Netherlands Chingford, United Kingdom Niverville, Canada the growing aging population who want to reside in
Dementia Nursing Home Senior Assisted Living Multigenerational Community Hub their existing communities.
30 31
Providing appropriate housing for aging in community
0 10 25 50m necessitates a concurrent push to ensure appropriate
allocation of health care infrastructure, services, and
facilities at a neighbourhood scale. Support across
disciplines in urban planning, architecture, and health
care are needed for this to be successful.

ABOVE: Comparative
neighbourhood plans of various
projects visited illustrate the varying • In Japan, the development of senior day care
degrees to which the individual or service centres at a neighbourhood scale are
developments respond to their instrumental to the dissemination of home-care
surrounding context in relation to
grain and scale. Projects in the services
upper row depict urban projects.
Projects in the lower row depict • In the Netherlands, the Buurtzorg model of care
suburban and rural projects.
takes the neighbourhood as its locus of work and is
RIGHT: The one-storey bar of the represented by a team of self-organizing nurses.
Mutsukawa Day Care Centre, finds
a natural fit, inserted within a natural
slip space in the topographical shift
mutsukawa day care centre - sanaa
of the neighbourhood.
[yokohama, japan]
Image courtesy of Shape Architecture. Image courtesy of Shape Architecture.
ABOVE LEFT + RIGHT: Before and after

32 images showing how the Union Street
33
ECOHeritage project transformed
two houses into a multi-generational
living arrangement. In place of the two
original households, 7 residential units
are divided between the renovated
houses and a newly inserted laneway

house.
RIGHT: Robert Martin’s thesis project

looks at the potential inherent in the
“empty bedroom” syndrome prevalent
in Sydney’s suburbs. His proposed
urban planning tool looks at the
possibility of transforming empty
bedrooms in houses of “empty nesters”
to address the demographic shift.
Through his analysis, he identifies
a typical distribution of housing
inefficiencies and provides a guide for
how collective infill housing could be
enacted to address a more sustainable
and resilient model for aging-in-
Images courtesy of Robert Martin.
neighbourhood.
The need for developing community in new approaches into older age as a cohort. As the groups looks forward,
to elder housing also brings into focus their make-up. they foresee that this may affect the rate of sales
Prevailing models of elder housing in Canada illustrate within their community as well as the general rise in
communities developed based on common cultural and need for support, beyond informal provisions amongst
/ or religious backgrounds, but also predominantly with neighbours and home care service. In an effort to create
an age specificity. The main stipulation of many such interest in the “young-old” for joining a community of
“senior communities” is the requirement of individuals “older-old”, Egebakken has realized that the need for
to be “55+”. It is natural for people to want to commune some form of diversity is necessary. In that effort, they
with others who are similar. Many of the residents whom have begun to expand the membership of the co-
I interviewed were perfectly happy living in seniors only housing community to include non-resident seniors from
communities. However, housing options which focus the greater area who would be offered access to the
purely on elders and elders alone, often face issues of use of the common house and planned activities. These
homogeneity, which designing in diversity and resilience non-residents would in turn be placed on a waiting list
may help to address. should properties be available for sale.
In Denmark, for example, professor Deane Alan Simpson Similarly, the need for resilience in the planning of
from the Institute of Architecture, Urbanism and elder housing can be seen in the Netherlands. The
Landscape at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts institutionalization of senior care became a major part
(KADK) has mapped the demographic distribution of of public policy in the Netherlands when the national
aging which reveals the urban migration of young people pension program was initiated in the mid-twentieth
to the major Danish urban capitals, and conversely century. After 1965, the large scale development of
the suburban and rural migration of older people. “service” homes in the Netherlands was supported
This is reinforced by the resulting demand on housing by government subsidies for the homes themselves
stock and prices which altogether generate a societal as well as the residents. In parallel with the religious
stratification into geographies of age. In this large scale compartmentalization that was occurring in the country,
view, it becomes clear how actual, physical divides in through its “pillarization” of Catholic, Protestant,
aging and housing can contribute enormously to the and Socialist groups, this resulted in an abundance
perception (or lack thereof) of elders at the peripheries of of privately-operated, institutional care homes for
our cultural imagination. the elderly. However, beginning roughly four years
ago, changes in national policies occurred with the
The rise of senior cohousing communities in Denmark recognition that such a heavily subsidized senior care
also faces a similar issue of segregation. At the program was unsustainable. A shift was made to
residences of Egebakken and Herfra til Evigheden, transfer the responsibility of the senior care budget from
their very development was made possible from the a regional to a municipal policy level. What ensued was
draw of similarly-aged couples. As a result, one of the the removal of financing to previously low care needs
DIVERSITY & RESILIENCE

outcomes has been that the residents are all entering seniors (Categories 1-4) and an increase on home care
Image courtesy of ERIK Arkitekter.
34 35

ABOVE + LEFT: The Generations
House development in Aarhus is
predicated on the belief in fostering
demographic diversity in housing
arrangements to address needs
across one’s lifespan. The ambitious
Youth programme provides housing for
Family
elders (with and without care),
people with disabilities, youth, and
Elder families. Meanwhile, public and
semi-public spaces distributed
Disability
throughout the buildings allow
concept diagrams programme diagram Care for community engagement both
generations house - erik arkitekter generations house - erik arkitekter within the building and to the
[aarhus, denmark] [aarhus, denmark] neighbourhood beyond.
service reliance. This has created a crisis in Dutch senior
care as social infrastructures struggle to adapt to the
policy change. Many care homes have had to downsize
or close down as a result.
As an alternative approach to the previous examples,

multigenerational planning and design of elder
housing has re-emerged. The rise in this type of living
arrangement, favoured for many centuries, reflects on
the positive attributes of intergenerational interaction
and experience which highlights opportunities such
as mutual knowledge transfer, mentoring, and the
development of empathy.
At the larger scale of development, projects look at

introducing a variety of housing types and supportive
programming to encourage a multigenerational
community.
• At the Generations House [p.102], the housing

development consists of care homes, senior
apartments, youth housing, and mainstream housing
in integrally mixed apartment blocks. Supportive
program space for child daycare, public cafe, and
auditorium are placed at the ground level.
• At the Diakonissestiftelsen [p.98] and the Gojikara

Mura, housing and functions across generations
are placed adjacent or near each other but kept
separate.
• In all three examples above, opportunities for

gathering of residents and user groups are sought
through the creation of in-between spaces, public
indoor spaces, and green spaces which can be
shared.
Image courtesy of Williamson Williamson Inc.

At a smaller scale, projects have looked at the possibility
of enabling multiple generations, typically within one
36 37
family and more recently between different families, to
live on the same or an enlarged property development.
ABOVE + RIGHT: The House • At the House on Ancaster Creek [p.78], a double wide
on Ancaster Creek transforms
a double-wide property into a
lot was developed to allow for a son to care for his
aging mother at home. The generosity of space

multigenerational house, developed
by the owners to support an afforded to the communal areas offers ease and
aging parent. Two overlapping,
comfort for both sides of the family occupying the
perpendicular bars form the two
residences, each with their own house.
distinct entry sequence. The hinge
point of the two bars and residential • At Chobham Manor, developed in the wake of the
spaces is used as an opportunity
for celebration, in the form of a Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the multigenerational
sculptural, wooden spiral staircase. row houses anchor the corners of the “lifetime
The collective spaces which bring neighbourhood” masterplan. The separation of
the family together are afforded a
generosity of scale and size. The Image courtesy of Williamson Williamson Inc. a main house and an accessory dwelling by a
connection and continuity between courtyard offers opportunities to provide housing
inside and outside adds to this concept diagrams programme diagram to an aging parent, or create an alternative rental
spatial quality through the use of House on ancaster creek - williamson williamson architects House on ancaster creek - williamson williamson architects
borrowed space in landscape. [ancaster, canada] [ancaster, canada] income stream in the competitive housing market of
London.
With the growing possibilities for collective living A semi-private common area is provided for each
helping to reframe elder housing within more diverse house which is complemented by a host of semi-
and resilient communities, the need to strike a balance private and public spaces adjacent to each house
between independence and shared experience require or interconnected throughout other levels. All the
sensitive, spatial resolutions. Even with independent major public spaces are gathered at ground level.
living where the space of “work”, embodied by care The variety of spaces are characterized by their
providers, overlaps into the space of “home”, that of introversion or extroversion to enable a range of
the elder, the mitigation between private and public desired activity to take place.
realms underscores the importance of how architectural
responses can help to preserve dignity. • At the Laneway House prototypes [p.74], smaller
scale interventions are made looking at the
In some of the projects which I studied, layered bathroom layout with the use and placement of
transitions in spatial sequencing forms a strong sliding doors delineating between private space and
backbone to the underlying development of the plan and shared, caregiving space.
section.
• At Kenyuen Home for the Elderly [p.90], the base

unit for configuring the resident bedrooms centres
around a semi-private living space shared typically
by two individuals, which fronts onto the public
corridor. The corridor itself is articulated by niches of
refuge which further correlate to the individual, semi-
private living areas.
• At the Kamigyo Day Care Centre [p.82], the entry

sequence is carefully designed to screen views
directly into the main room through the provision of
a small interior court. This also serves as a place to
park wheelchairs and scooters. Within, the washing
area follows a series of anterooms into a waiting
room, before crossing into that private realm.
• At the Generations House [p.102], a mix of

approximately 6 units, ranging from seniors, youth,
families, or individuals with disabilities, are grouped
LAYERED TRANSITIONS
into a “house” which has its own distinct front door.
shrine use
38 39
noh stage
warehouse
warehouse
access to
residence
well for
ancestor
display
owner’s
display
garden
garden
kimono
garden
shrine
garden
shop
shop

ABOVE + RIGHT: Layered
threshold sequences at entries
area not
visited
tea ceremony
room
study
area not
visited
area not
visited
entry
courtyard
well for
general use
to individual suites at Windmill
Court demonstrate affinities to the
spatial transitions observed in more
traditional Japanese architecture, windmill court - prp architects roji lane threshold tondaya machiya
found in roji lanes and the layouts of [chingford, united kingdom] [tokyo, japan] [kyoto, japan]
machiya townhouses

typical plans
kenyuen home for the elderly - murumatsu architects
[esumi, japan]
40 41

ABOVE + RIGHT: At the Kenyuen
Home for the Elderly, Murumatsu
has sought to break down interior
spaces into more human scaled
“flats” which consist either of two
single rooms around a shared
bathroom and living space; or a
double room adjacent to a public
lounge area. The diversity of spatial
groupings and sequences between
private and semi-public spaces
provide variety in the preservation
of dignity as an individual moves
fluidly between a place of their own
and that in which they may seek SKETCH OF TYPICAL “FLAT” LAYOUTS
support from or connection with kenyuen home for the elderly - murumatsu architects
others. [esumi, japan]

BELOW + RIGHT: With reference to
the traditional language of Japanese
machiya townhouses, the entry
sequence at the Kamigyo Day Care
Centre is distinctly experienced
as a series of layered transitions
between public and private space.
Ramping up from the forecourt, the
angled entry is enclosed by a sliding
wooden screen which opens into a
small internal entry courtyard. The
courtyard forms the gathering space
of two entry points: a ramped slope
to the day care’s main floor and a
staircase to the upper floor.
entry perspective
kamigyo day care centre - kawai architects
[kyoto, japan]
42 43

Image courtesy of Kawai Architects.
ground floor plan entry sequence study sketches
kamigyo day care centre - kawai architects kamigyo day care centre - kawai architects
[kyoto, japan] [kyoto, japan]

While reconsidering approaches to elder housing, one • At the senior cohousing communities of Egebakken
must not forget that we are ultimately talking about the and Herfra til Evigheden [p.106], the base layouts
creation of homes. With this underscoring the starting for each of the residences were designed by the
point of design, what makes a home? Regardless of architects to fit within the design rules of their overall
typology, the moment a house truly becomes a home community masterplan. However, the allowance for
is when residents feel comfortable enough to truly customization was built into the base plan. Through
personalize their own space. This process no doubt a process of consultation with each resident,
depends on one’s own personal history, which informs additional elements could be added or removed
preferences and interests. From an architectural point from the base plan, generating flexibility in how each
of view, the importance of interior design should not resident approached the functional layouts of their
be overlooked as a merely aesthetic aspect to elder own home.
housing projects. The material choices, scale, and
proportion can serve to support elders in their transition • At the Kamigyo Day Care Centre [p.82], the sense
to new living and care environments by reducing feelings of home embodied in this public space comes
of displacement through offerings of familiarity. from specific references to the history and cultural
landscape of this historic neighbourhood in Kyoto.
Projects have sought to increase the feeling and The use of tatami and wood, alongside a base of
atmosphere of home by focusing on either private or concrete, speaks to a mix of traditional and modern
public spaces. materials which would be familiar to the residents.
The generosity of space in the main living area is
• At De Hogeweyk [p.110], a major part of their care differentiated by skylit niches which creates comfort
approach centres on the observation that residents in daily gatherings.
with dementia tend to manage better living
according to a lifestyle which matches their own. • At the City of Aarhus, their current program
To this end, the individual houses for residents are “Eldercare with Heart and Soul” (Besjaelling) began
designed according to the eight different lifestyles with a concern regarding the quality of spaces
identified in the elder population cared for by the represented by their elder care environments. Their
Vivium group: Artisan, Christian, Cultural, Gooise, intention is to reduce the institutional feeling of
Homey, Indonesian, and Urban. The interiors work these spaces and to promote a return to the Danish
together with the lifestyles enacted in each house notion of “hygge”. This distinctly Danish term
which encompasses also dining and recreational loosely translates to the creation of homeliness and
activities. For example, the Artisan house is more coziness in a space. Their hope is to find a way of
traditionally-oriented both in use of material and applying this to a range of environments such as
layout, whereas the Gooise lifestyle is considered home care, nursing homes, community centers,
more classical. health centers, and health clinics.
Images courtesy of De Hogeweyk.

SENSE OF HOME C U R R E N T P R O J E C T S P A R A L L E L
44 P R O J E C T S 45
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Let it Grow Taste for Life
Making connections Room for Dementia

Introducing green,
outdoor experiences with organizations such
as scouts, gardeners, Collaborate with the
increases quality of life Department of
daycares, and schools
ABOVE: The individual “houses” at for residents allows for landscaping Technology and
Environment.
De Hogeweyk are centred around and outdoor events
which brings nature
the varying lifestyles embodied by

closer to residents.
their residents. Workng towards this

specificity relies both on sensitive Build courtyards
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
design with regards to the interiors My (Nursing) Home “Home” Magazine The Entrance
Renewing the physical Develop main principles
as well as the daily rituals of the surroundings makes Improving the interiors Providing inspiration Improving how for new construction
eldercare less institu- and exteriors of by showcasing how guests are
care team. tional and nursing homes nursing homes. we rethink nursing welcomed, starting at Renew kitchens
more homely and homes in Aarhus. the front door of the
inviting. nursing home.
RIGHT: The City of Aarhus’ program Heart & Soul Sound Environment
“Eldercare with Heart and Soul” in Home Care & Quality of Life
acknowledges that improving Carrying out home

elder housing and care requires CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
care without
Etiquette & Conduct Nursing Homes with institutionalizing Create director
addressing the built, cultural, and Adding heart and soul to
a Soul private homes.
positions for nursing
homes
Creating internal Designing and testing
natural environments concurrently our work culture allows guidelins on how to ways to add soul to the
us to treat our residents Improve home care
as part of a holistic process. Their with presence and
treat residents,
relatives, and visitors
work culture. Imple-
menting guidelines for Involve relatives and
current plan shows the steps they warmth. to the care home. etiquette and conduct. communities
are taking to address issues at each Strengthen dialogue
level through various pilot projects.

To accomplish this initiative, the city of Aarhus
has focused on 3 parallel tracks of programs:
one focuses on the physical by renewing the built
environment; another focuses on the cultural by
adding heart and soul to the work culture; and the
last focuses on landscape by improving quality of
life through access to the outdoors. Through their
pilot projects, they implement focused interventions
on the existing public spaces of nursing homes
through extensive consultation with the care team
and residents. Their outcomes centre on specificity,
legibility, and spatial clarity.
46 47
ABOVE + RIGHT: The pilot projects

of the “Eldercare” programme in
Aarhus which focus on design

interventions for existing public
spaces of care home rely on
extensive consultation with staff and
residents. Design choices made on
individual projects demonstrate an
understanding and interpretation
of specificity - in place and people.
For example, artwork is researched
and selected in terms of relevance
and connection to resident histories,
which reaches beyond a mere
exercise in aesthetics. Colour All images on this and opposite page are courtesy of City of Aarhus.
schemes and material palette also
respond to this type of specificity
while addressing objectives such as
spatial clarity for wayfinding.

One of the refrains from the many residents and amplify daylight. Between the two spaces, clerestory
care workers interviewed, describing their favourite windows provide the opportunity to draw light into
aspect of their home or workplace was the way the the deepest portions of the rooms, as well as a
design maximized daylight. This should come as no method for cross-ventilation. Large, glazed units
surprise as access and exposure to daylight have been feature prominently in the public spaces of dining,
well-documented to be vital for good housing and physical therapy, and bathing.
work throughout the history of public health and its
intersection with architecture. However, if we survey the • At Herfra til Evigheden and Egebakken [p.106],
current landscape of elderly housing in Canada, there maximizing daylight was one of the main design
is still much which can be done to improve the spatial requests from the residents who developed the
quality of residences, especially in situations where projects. In each of the homes, skylights form a
housing and care overlap. Long, double-loaded halls or key architectural feature, contributing to its distinct
“horridors” which are often encountered in these types facade expression, as well as heightening the interior
of care facilities, need to be critically rethought in the spatial qualities. Clerestory windows are also used to
face of evidence which continues to support the impact draw light into the house and in between rooms.
of environmental design on health and well-being.
• At Diakonissestiftelsen [p.98], the diagonal layouts of
At a very basic level, daylight provides cues for daily and the apartment blocks allow for daylight to penetrate
seasonal rhythms. The consistency of this natural clock deep into the main corridor plan. A large skylight
serves to maintain a sense of normalcy in daily activities at the central stair core accentuates the circulation
and rituals, especially when an elder moves into a new space in a subtle nudge to encourage elders to take
living arrangement and physical environment. The the stairs, if they are still able.
appeal of well-lit spaces can be seen to have a strong
effect on attracting people to gathering areas and can • At the Kamigyo Day Care Centre [p.82], location of
also form part of a larger strategy for wayfinding. the building on a tight urban site was challenging
to the accommodation of daylighting. This was
• At IDU Terrace [p.86], all corridors are single-loaded deftly accomplished through the combined use of
with views to the exterior. Along the corridors, semi- clerestory windows and interior glass slots from the
private niches are created with their own glazed upper storey. In addition, a fully glazed south facade
bays, increasing visual connection throughout the borrows light from a shared courtyard space.
courtyard building. Adding to this are the large
amounts of glazing used in the dining spaces.
• At Kenyuen Home for the Elderly [p.90], corridors

are also all similarly single-loaded. At each private
AMPLIFICATION OF LIGHT
room, the section is enlarged at the windows to
48 49

LEFT: The plan layouts at
Diakonissestiftelsen employ
a pinwheel configuration of 3
individual units around a central
circulation atrium to bring daylight
deep into both the private and
public spaces of the senior housing
blocks. Large glazing units highlight
daylighting study sketch
the openings created in the atrium
diakonissestiftelsen senior apartments - vandkunsten and increase the experiential quality
[copenhagen, denmark] of this informal gathering space.

50 51

ABOVE + RIGHT: At IDU Terrace,
all corridors are single-loaded
with views to the exterior. Along
the corridors, semi-private niches
are created with their own glazed
bays, increasing visual connection
throughout the courtyard building.
Adding to this are the large amounts
of glazing used in the dining spaces.
52 53

ABOVE + RIGHT: At Kenyuen Home
for the Elderly, Murumatsu employs
several strategies to amplify daylight
into the building. Fundamentally, the
building is designed with single-
loaded corridors to flood all public
areas with light. At below grade
instances, light wells punctuate the
hallway experience. Adding to these
basic moves, clerestory windows
are provided between every room shadow study of basement light wells
and hall to further enhance light kenyuen home for the elderly
penetration as well as ventilation. [esumi, japan]

54 55

ABOVE + RIGHT: Vandkunsten uses
a similar language of expressive
skylights, clerestory windows, and
large feature glazing units to amplify
the amount of daylight penetration
into the individual homes at two daylighting study sketch roofscape perspective
senior cohousing projects: Herfra til herfra til evigheden - Vandkunsten herfra til evigheden - vandkunsten
Evigheden and Egebakken. [roskilde, denmark] [roskilde, denmark]

56 57

ABOVE + RIGHT: At the Kamigyo
Day Care Centre, daylighting
on the tight urban site is deftly
accomplished through the
combined use of clerestory
windows and interior glass slots
from the upper storey. In addition,
a fully glazed south facade borrows
light from a shared courtyard space.
Amplifying daylight through glazing also allows for • At Kenyuen Home for the Elderly [p.90], the
designs which bring a closer connection between relationship to the ocean forms a significant
a building and its surroundings, whether natural or reference point for the design of the building, making
constructed. While good elder housing should no a connection with the residents of the area who are
doubt support the care and residential needs of older mainly fishermen. The Z-shaped building is oriented
individuals, active living can be promoted by the to maximize views to the ocean from all private
creation of linkages between interior and exterior space. rooms and common areas. The exterior facade
Facilitating this type of engagement offers physical, is composed mainly of dark, exposed concrete,
mental, and social benefits. It can trigger alternatives resonating with the cliffs on which the building is
to a sedentary lifestyle. It can provide incentives to situated.
gather and socialize. It can also provide spaces of
integration with the wider neighbourhood. Perhaps most • At Windmill Court [p.94], access to the individual
importantly, connection to place can illuminate specific resident dwellings is provided by a covered, exterior
and personal meaning for residents. gallery which provides views into the interior
courtyard. Within each unit, both an open summer
Creating connections to the exterior can sometimes be balcony and a glazed winter balcony encourage use
seen as a difficult objective, especially when designing in of outdoor space throughout the year.
a northern climate. This requires sensitivity in approach,
but perhaps also a shift in mindset. Encouraging elders • At Diakonissestiftelsen [p.98], pockets of gardens and
to engage with the realities of weather allows them to landscaped areas are created in between the senior
face small challenges in a controlled manner, forming apartment blocks. These create public gathering
an important part in the maintenance of normalcy and spaces for the residents, as well as opportunities for
agency over their lives. neighbours in the adjacent residential blocks, to use
and discover.
• At IDU Terrace [p.86], the building is planned with a
courtyard configuration, focusing its views to the • At the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (KADK),
north at Mount Fuji and south to the surrounding PhD Candidate Sidse Carroll worked together with
town. This is facilitated by exterior linking terraces residential groups in the Sydhaven neighbourhood to
at alternating floors and glazed dining areas on develop public spaces adjacent to apartment blocks
every other floor, which increase the porosity of which have concentrated groups of elders. In one of
the building in these two main orientations. A third her pilot projects, she designed an outdoor covered
orientation is provided as the gaze focuses inward porch, together with benches and a barbeque grill,
to the landscaped interior courtyard, enabled by a to form an informal gathering space for a group of
significant amount of glazing at the interior perimeter seniors. The design strategically negotiates both
of the building. financial constraints as well as local dynamics
CONNECTION TO SURROUNDINGS
between resident and neighbourhood use in a
58 59

ABOVE + RIGHT: The siting of
the Z-shaped Kenyuen Home
for the Elderly on its oceanfront
property maximizes the views and
connection to its surroundings.
FAR RIGHT: The relationship to the

ocean forms a significant reference
point for the design of Kenyuen
Home for the Elderly, making a
connection with the residents of the
area who are mainly fishermen. In its
neighbouring town of Susami, the
cultural heritage and pride in this site diagram
local trade is proudly on display at kenyuen home for the elderly
the train station. [esumi, japan]

Image courtesy of De Hogeweyk.
ABOVE LEFT: At Windmill Court, marginalized community. In another pilot project,

60 access to individual resident
61
dwellings is provided by a covered,
Carroll worked collaboratively with elders in co-
exterior gallery which offers views design and construction which upgraded existing
into the interior courtyard. benches in between a pair of apartment blocks.
ABOVE: The complex of houses at
De Hogeweyk are configured around • At De Hogeweyk [p.110], the architects and landscape

6 highly differentiated courtyards, architects strove for an equal split between built and
each forming their own unique
exterior areas. The overall layout of the complex
“weyk”, a Dutch term for a group of
houses. emphasizes the articulation of individual “houses”,
created around six landscaped courtyards. The
LEFT: In a pilot project in Sydhaven, specificity and unique character of each courtyard
Sidse Carroll worked with elders
in affordable housing blocks to creates a diversity in experience for resident use.
reimagine their existing street The use of courtyards in the design supports
furniture and interstitial exterior independence, especially for those with dementia,
spaces to improve the quality
of informal gathering spaces. A as it allows wandering behaviour to happen in a
side table prototype which easily purposeful and safe manner. A covered atrium
incorporates into the existing adjacent to the main town square offers an
bench and planters which shelter
and define seating areas were built
additional venue to gather outside of the resident
together with the residents. houses during colder months.
62 63

FAR LEFT + ABOVE: At IDU Terrace,
the interior perimeter of the courtyard
building is largely glazed to facilitate
visual connections to its surroundings,
the landscaped interior court, and to
other parts of the building.
LEFT: At Diakonissestiftelsen, pockets

of gardens and landscaped areas
are created in between the senior
apartment blocks. These create public
gathering spaces for the residents, as
well as opportunities for neighbours in
the adjacent residential blocks, to use
and discover.
The topic of aging and the specific issue of senior • John Brown, the dean of the Faculty of
housing touches on a host of disciplines, ranging from Environmental Design at the University of Calgary,
architecture, urban design / planning, health care, has been collaborating with the university’s Faculty
policy, and real estate development, to name a few. of Medicine. Together with architecture students,
While their interests may converge on this topic, their he has been studying the potential of portable,
research and practice are often segregated. Within the deployable laneway housing units as part of
lens of architecture, we can only go so far to address a strategy to enable elders to age in their own
this topic with the skills and experience that we have. community, while taking advantage of advances in
Many of the pertinent decisions which govern the home health care technologies. Various prototypes
success of any one project or initiative precedes the have been constructed as part of design studios,
work that we as architects are often engaged to do. For with each iteration being tested and evaluated by
example, the location of a project in relation to the larger their collaborators in medicine, as well as elders
community and the initial development of programming, themselves.
all significantly impact the viability and sustainability of
its outcome. • PRP Architects have been engaged in the discussion
of elder housing, both in their specialist housing
These types of decisions, however, could benefit from practice based out of Surrey, as well as their
the value architects can bring to the discussion. Our contribution to the “Housing our Aging Population:
unique and broad training provides us with the ability Panel for Innovation” (HAPPI Panel). The panel was
to conceptualize both at the large and small scale of a first convened in 2009 by Lord Best to elucidate
development project and throughout the length of its recommendations and design criteria for the
lifespan. Perhaps most importantly, we are experienced development of new elder housing. It drew from a
in shaping space and environment to serve the needs wide range of individuals: architects, seniors groups,
of wide-ranging users. Taken altogether, the practice of housing associations, developers, researchers,
architecture at the highest levels of design excellence, and civil servants. Since then, they have produced
can help to form a framework for older living that will four reports which outline delivery methods, best
have a meaningful impact on aging well. practices in management, and most recently, a
specific focus on the rural condition.
As we move the national conversation forward
regarding elder housing, it would make sense for more • Gustav Brade and Per Schulze at Realdania in
interdisciplinary, collaborative partnerships to be formed Copenhagen are stimulating the housing market for
so that the knowledge and experience from each field the development of senior communities by creating
can be shared and expanded upon. Various individuals partnerships with private investors and the general
whom I met through my travels demonstrate how housing sector. They researched and approached
reaching across disciplines strengthens the discussion the top real estate developers in the country with
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
of elder housing. the proposal of collaborating on the creation of
ABOVE: At the University of

64 Calgary’s Faculty of Environmental
65
+ +
Design, Laneway Housing
prototypes were developed as
deployable residential units for
aging-in-place. Led by John Brown Elders Realdania Developers
Rooms & Communities 4 Housing Associations
in design studios with students and
for Elders 4 Pension Associations
in collaboration with the Faculty

of Medicine, each iteration has
+
undergone evaluation by elders
themselves.
RIGHT: Realdania is a member-

based association that operates Architects
through catalytic philanthropy while
serving as agents of structural
change for the built environment
and society. Their current initiative Senior
Research Development
of “Rooms and Communities Co-housing
for Elders” is backed by their & Consultation Prototype
Communities
independent research, and relies
on strategic partnerships with
developers to reimagine senior
co-housing communities for a larger
Image courtesy of Realdania.
portion of Danish elders.
LEFT + BELOW: The winning
proposal for the “Who Cares”
Competition in Almere looks at the
power of linking spatial and social
innovation through the creation of
new housing in a contemporary
courtyard configuration. The
proposal works with the support of
existing volunteer and professional
networks in the neighbourhood.
senior community-based housing. They successfully

created 8 partnerships with 4 housing associations
and 4 pension associations. To help reduce risk for
the developers, Realdania committed to providing
the research and development for each of the 8
projects, including the development of housing
prototypes.
• Floris Alkemade, the chief government architect in

the Netherlands, initiated in 2017 a national ideas
competition entitled “Who Cares” in collaboration
with various ministries, public councils, non-profit
organizations, and five specific municipalities. The
competition served as a tool to canvas new ideas in
this field, with the underlying concept that an urban
environment well-equipped for those requiring care
and support would be a better city for all. One of
the distinguishing features of this competition is the
requirement that participant teams be composed
66 of interdisciplinary collaborations between spatial 67
designers, healthcare professionals, and innovative
thinkers from other adjacent fields. It was stipulated
that each team must have at least one professional
designer to ensure that a spatial resolution formed
part of the proposals. A matching program on the

competition website also helped to facilitate this
process.
All images on this and opposite page are courtesy of Who Cares (Team: Pe-
ter van Assche, Bart Lammers, Kirsten Hannema, Renet Korthals Altes, Ruud
van der Kind).

LEFT: Residents gather at the
lounge area of the assisted living
housing in Gojikara Village. Located
adjacent to the entrance of the
building, it is often used together
with guests and visitors.
REFLECTIONS
While the World Health Organization recognizes that differences in personality which sees spaces appropriate
health encompasses physical, social, and mental well- for both introverts and extroverts. These responses
being, beyond the absence of disease or infirmity, should also acknowledge differences in gender and how
these three central tenets can also frame our views on this affects their socialization tendencies. Underlying this
aging.7 In Canada, much of the architectural discussion should be an awareness that the older demographic is
regarding elder housing tends to focus on the physical represented by a female majority, in lives that are largely
aspects of aging: through applications of universal single, either by choice or circumstance.
design, adaptations to allow aging-in-place, and spatial
accommodations for care provision in its various forms. Reconfiguring the relationship between elder
However, the support of social and mental health can housing and its community offers the foundation for
be areas more widely addressed in the architecture reframing our portrait of elders as valuable resources.
of aging, in a manner which also strives for design Intergenerational environments generate reciprocal
excellence. benefits which expand on active living and knowledge
exchange. Ultimately, this requires a shift in our concept
The themes illuminated through my fellowship reinforce of retirement, whose current definition may no longer
this approach. As a result, my study has not focused suit our new reality of lengthened lifespans. Other
on approaches which solely accommodate the physical models of retirement which have preceded, have yielded
aspects of aging, although they absolutely form an widely differing formal expressions of housing to suit.
integral part of the discussion. There exists already a
68 plethora of research and literature in this area, which We have seen retirement modelled after leisure, 69
continues to advance under the subsets of home care emphasizing a lifestyle of travel and luxury amenities
technology and accessibility. My study also did not while promoting an architectural language akin to hotel
focus on the many projects which solely demonstrate accommodations. The escapist realms created by this
exemplary programmatic concepts for elder housing. approach undoubtedly offer favourable immediate
This exists beyond a discussion of the built environment experiences, but they are typically only available to

and the contributions which architecture can add to this those with financial means. The tendency to engender a
field. “constant vacation” also segregates individuals from a
relationship with their wider community.
I did, however, learn some key lessons which can guide
a more rounded approach in housing our elders. We have also seen retirement modelled after care,
emphasizing an aging life which encounters ailing,
Enabling individuals to develop their own social capital frailty, and illness promoting an architectural language
is critical in countering the loneliness and isolation facing akin to hospitals. The protective realms created by this
our aging population. Architectural solutions need to approach undoubtedly offer care provision in an efficient
more strongly foster social interactions and community- manner but this comes at a high cost, both financially
building by providing larger portions of building area and and individually. The containment and warehousing of
landscape towards collective space, which should be elders again segregates them from a relationship with
varied in nature. These responses should acknowledge their wider community.
With current models of retirement modelling after
normalization and acknowledgement of the individual,
the architectural language will inevitably shift and
recentre on the primacy of the domestic home and its
integration with the wider community. This requires
approaches to elder housing which overturn generically
defined, singular typologies to emphasize linkages
between individual histories and specificities of place.
Many elders from the boomer generation have asserted

control over how they plan to live and this type of
agency needs to be reconsidered against the backdrop
of traditional project development. The rise in owner-
driven development, collective commissioning, and
overall self-organization within this cohort requires an
outreach from the architectural profession to support
their understanding of the built environment. While the
pursuit and value of architecture on this topic needs
continued education, its advocacy should reach beyond
the profession. How can architects serve as more
effective bridges across this divide and provide tools to
support elders in their decision-making?
The demographic shift has major economic implications

which can be easily understood when considering,
amongst other factors, the cost prohibitive nature of
institutional care and housing models in Canada. In face
of this, a diversity of housing types should be sought,
with a view towards resilient solutions. Despite the
numbers which confirm this change in demography,
we must also appreciate the impermanence of the
condition. Finding ways to reduce purpose-built
typologies will offer flexibility in adapting to inevitable
change.
One of the ways which this can be achieved is to

consider how we can work with the existing fabric
and infrastructure of neighbourhoods, to re-imagine
the building stock we have at our disposal. Not every
70 71
initiative needs or can become a new build. Working
from both ends of the development spectrum is an
important mindset to espouse, offering both financial
and ecological sustainability.
Ultimately, the topic of aging and elder housing is larger

than what architecture can tackle alone. It is clear
that leveraging collaboration and cross-disciplinary
discussion are vital processes in addressing this issue,
both within and beyond the architectural profession.
Despite the specificity of this topic, successful elder
housing is undoubtedly a reflection of community
building and should form an important contribution
ABOVE: The owners and their
mother are afforded generosity in which architecture can make to city-building.
the shared space of the living room,
within the larger multi-generational
living arrangment at the House on
Ancaster Creek.
Image courtesy of Williamson Williamson Inc.

SELECTED PROJECTS
72 73

FUTURE ADAPTIVE BUILDING HOUSE
& LANEWAY HOUSING PROTOTYPES
CALGARY, CANADA
The Future Adaptive Building (FAB) House is a housing

model by Housebrand, predicated on an open building
system which allows for adaptation over time to reflect
residents’ changing life scenarios. The demonstration
house in the Elbow Park neighbourhood of Calgary
showcases key design features of this methodology.
• A high quality exterior envelope is created using

structural insulated panels (SIP)
• A fixed interior “armature” (the specified spatial

configuration of core elements - bathroom, kitchen,
mechanical, electrical) forms the basis of the house
framework
• Millwork is used to form moveable and adaptable

partition walls which can be adjusted over time to
suite the lifestyle scenarios of residents
Parallel to the development of the FAB House, John

Brown (cofounder of Housebrand) began an academic
collaboration with the medical department at the
University of Calgary. This brought him to consider the
development of a laneway house as a testing site for an
architectural studio on rethinking aging in place design
features (i.e. grab bars, showers, sinks, etc.).
The success of the first design-build studio prototype

has led to the development of a second prototype with
the aim of creating a portable, deployable laneway
house unit which could allow for supportive living close
to one’s own family using home health technologies.
View of fab demonstration house exterior.
This arrangement envisions a transferance of care
provision from a long-term care facility to a temporary
74 75
individual suite, close to home.
Currently, the second prototype is being tested by

seniors during a feedback and evaluation phase. The
intention is to continue research and development for
the laneway house concept.

various views of adaptable millwork
All images on this and opposite page are courtesy of Housebrand. partition walls.
concept diagram of fab house interior.
exterior rendering of laneway house prototype.
interior view of laneway house prototype. Image courtesy of University of Canada Faculty of Environmental Design.
76 77

Image courtesy of University of Canada Faculty of Environmental Design. laneway house prototype. shower handrail design.

HOUSE ON ANCASTER CREEK
ANCASTER, CANADA
Located on a double-wide property, the House on

Ancaster Creek was developed by the owners to support
their aging parent. Two overlapping, perpendicular bars
in plan form the two residences in this multi-generational
house which grounds the various spaces with views
to the landscape. The ground floor suite provides for
the owner’s mother to live in an accessible unit with
separate bedrooms, living / dining space, and bathroom.
The upper floor suite provides for the owners’ private
spaces with lounge area, study, bathroom, dressing, and
bedroom.
Several design strategies were employed to address

issues of aging at home and are incorporated in a
dignified manner. The importance of sound isolation
between the two residences was imperative to mediate
the acoustics across two private spaces. This helps,
for example, to address the reality of noise from life
support equipment that is used on a continuous basis
by the mother. An additional bedroom and bathroom
adjacent to the ground floor suite provides for the
possibility of a live-in private nurse. Currently this space
can host additional family members who help to support
caregiving as well as day nurse services.
Within the accessible unit itself, the living space is

oversized to accommodate the possibility of sleeping,
dining, and living all in one room when care requirements
become attenuated. Strategic placement of drains in
the continuous sloped floor of the bathroom, as well
as a master power switch placed in an adjacent utility
room, address issues of memory loss in a discreet
and integrated manner. Other important features of
courtyard view between kitchen and living spaces.
wayfinding night-lighting and incorporation of grab bars
is also included in the unit.
78 79
The importance of the shared spaces between the two
residences is highlighted in the remaining areas of the
ground floor. The collective spaces which bring the
family together are afforded a generosity of scale and
size. The connection and continuity between inside

and outside add to this spatial quality through the use
of borrowed space in landscape. The pinch in plan
incorporates a small courtyard which further enhances
this relationship with the exterior.
Material choices in the project reflect a dual focus on

weaving cohesion between the house and nature; as
well as a desire to address sustainability. In the interior,
the use of an oak panelled ceiling throughout the
circulation space adjacent to the accessible suite signals
a merging with the oak clad spiral staircase at the focal All images on this and opposite
point of the house. The extension of the exterior milled page are courtesy of Williamson
view looking up the main spiral stair. view from living room back towards dining area.
Williamson Inc.

oak cladding into the living room feature wall also help
to blur the lines between inside and outside.
On the exterior, choice of materials focuses on local

sourcing, such as the Algonquin limestone which lines
the base of the house, and durability. The milled oak
cladding has been treated with a three part finish system
to extend its lifespan to about 7-10 years, with the top
two layers serving a sacrificial purpose.
Charged also by the owner requirements for a low-

energy house, the design includes several other
sustainable features:
• Site densification by accommodating two families to

live on formerly a single-family lot
• A high performance envelope with triple-glazed

windows
• The use of solar panels installed on two of the flat

roofs
Measuring the performance of these initiatives was an

important part of the construction process and carries
into post-occupancy. Thermal imaging of all windows
was conducted prior to completion of the envelope, as
was an air blow test after. These tests do not incur a
large expense during the construction process but have
a lasting impact on the sustainable investments made
during the project design. The office is currently tracking
the metrics of energy consumption of the house,
together with the support of the owner. In order to gauge
the outcomes of their sustainable design intentions,
these measurements will help provide more accurate
feedback across various projects and inform their future ground floor plan upper floor plan
work.
As evident in this project, the typology of a multi-

80 81
generational house requires a negotiation between
the specific needs of each residence. The House
on Ancaster Creek shows how these issues can be
mediated architecturally with a focus on the positive
contributions keen design choices in material,
proportion, and spatial relationships can bring to the

discussion. What results is a home which balances the
fluidity of collective spaces with the preservation of
individuality in private spaces across generations. The
alignment of addressing both elder living arrangements
and sustainability also bring to focus the parallels
between the lifespan of individuals and the buildings
which support them.
All images on this and opposite

page are courtesy of Williamson section through kitchen
Williamson Inc. a sculptural skylight forms the main feature of the kitchen.

KAMIGYO DAY CARE CENTER
KYOTO, JAPAN
The Kamigyo Day Care Center is privately run in the

Kamigyo ward of Kyoto, a neighbourhood historically
known for its famed textile district, the Nishijn. Owned
by a care planner, Hiroki Nagahara developed the
day care center on a site with strong family ties. In
fact, Nagahara’s family occupies the property just
directly south of the centre. Much like the machiya
merchant townhouses characteristic of this traditional
neighbourhood, his family house incorporates a
commercial portion at street front, with residence at
rear, separated by an internal courtyard. In this case,
Nagahara’s mother, a doctor, runs the medical clinic
at the street front while his sister, a nurse, lives in the
residence behind.
The day care centre is located mid-block in the

residential neighbourhood and occupies a slot between
two former warehouses from 1880. These timber framed
warehouses are adapted and incorporated into the
building’s new functions.
While the users of the day care centre generally come

from the surrounding neighbourhood, a free shuttle bus
service is provided to assist with access. As the building
is set back from the street to create an entry forecourt,
drop off and pickup is easily accommodated.
With reference to the traditional language of the area’s

machiya houses, the entry sequence is distinctly
experienced as a series of layered transitions between
public and private space. Ramping up from the
forecourt, the angled entry is enclosed by a sliding
wooden screen which opens into a small internal entry
courtyard. The courtyard forms the gathering space of
82 two entry points: a ramped slope to the day care’s main 83
floor and a staircase to the upper floor.
The day care centre, with its staff team of 5-6 serves
approximately 12-14 users a day, to a maximum of 18.
The team consists of nurses, care staff, and speech

therapists who provide basic services such as bathing
and dining. Programs and activities are developed
together with the users according to their requests.
At the ground floor, the entry leads to a generous living

space which allows for a variety of activities to occur.
During my visit, one of the staff was playing harmonica
while another made candied oranges. At the west end, a
piano could be seen. The main focus of the living space
is the glazed south facade, looking out to the courtyard
garden shared with the Nagahara residence.
view of main living space.
Beyond the living area and into the slip space between

the existing warehouses, a minimal steel staircase is
inserted to provide access to the upper floor. To the
south, one of the warehouses is adapted into a bathing
suite and rest area. To the north, the other warehouse is
adapted into a toilet suite.
Climbing the stairs to the upper floor, you find the

kitchen and dining spaces. Similar to the living area, the
main focus is the glazed south facade, continued at the
upper level with screened views to the shared garden.
To the north, hidden clerestory windows illuminate a
staircase to the rooftop balcony. A slot of glass flooring
at the north party wall draws the light from the clerestory
deep down to the ground floor, washing the back wall
of the living area. Similarly, a slot of glass flooring at the
south facade, amplifies daylight into the space below.
The rooftop balcony provides views to the east and

dining areA with view of stairs to the roof.
west of the surrounding neighbourhood and is a popular
location for summer barbecues. A traditional tea house
was also provided at this level. However, since its
occupancy, it has been turned into a storage room. The
rooftop is the only level not serviced by the elevator.
The attention paid to drawing daylight into the building

adds to the generosity of perceived spaciousness in
roof plan
what is otherwise a very tight building footprint. The
ingenuity of the plan also finds wash stations and toilets
adeptly managed and choreographed to support the
living spaces with ease.
While the project exemplifies a modern insertion into

the existing urban fabric, a balance is struck between
the new materials of concrete, glass, and steel; and
the traditional palette of wood and tatami. This duality
upper floor plan lends warmth into the clearly articulated space, while
also providing cultural continuity for the neighbourhood
users. According to Nagahara, what results is a place
where elders feel comfortable in spending their days.
84 85

ground floor plan
the main stairs to the upper floor lies in the slip space between two existing warehouses.
Drawings courtesy of Kawai Architects.

IDU TERRACE
MISHIMA, JAPAN
IDU Terrace is a nursing home for the elderly, situated

in the suburb of Matsumoto, near the city of Mishima.
Located at the foothills of Mount Fuji, this major
industrial centre came to prosper while serving as
a convenient connection point between former Edo
(Tokyo) and Kyoto. The nursing home is located just off a
main thoroughfare, facing a residential neighbourhood to
the north.
As one approaches the building, the nursing home

displays a very public face. The entry glass box is
tucked under the glazed dining space of the second
floor, framing views into the garden beyond. As one
slips beneath this exterior threshold, one can see that
the building is planned with a courtyard configuration,
focusing its views to the north at Mount Fuji and south
to the surrounding town.
This is facilitated by exterior linking terraces at

alternating floors and glazed dining areas on every other
floor, which increase the porosity of the building in these
two main orientations. A third orientation is provided
as the gaze focuses inward to the landscaped interior
courtyard, enabled by a significant amount of glazing at
the interior perimeter of the building.
Transparency to the inner courtyard also translates to

visual connections of all public spaces from any point
in the building. The main dining spaces are located
in the most transparent areas of the floor plan at the
north and south. On floors where these are occupied
by the exterior linking terrace areas, the dining rooms
are inserted as glass niches, jutting into the interior
view of courtyard, facing north to Mount fuji.
courtyard. Angled “bay” windows also protrude into the
courtyard and offer dynamic, diagonal views.
86 87

typical floor plan
Drawing courtesy of Muramatsu Architects.
view of exterior linking terrace between west and east sides of

the building. view of courtyard garden.

Each of the 4 main residential floors houses 20
individuals, divided into two wings. The wings are
separated by exterior linking terraces either along the
north / south axis or the east / west axis and due to the
glazed interior courtyard, all corridors are single-loaded.
Within the two wings, the residents are further separated
by their common dining areas into groups of 6 and 4.
This reduction in scale also has a parallel effect on the
sizing of dining areas and nurse stations.
The haptic elements with which residents and staff

interact with on a daily basis (i.e. handrails, benches,
nursing stations, doors, etc.) are highlighted in wood
finishes, giving warmth and approachability in their
varied uses. All other finishes are basic, in keeping with
tight budgetary demands, utilizing linoleum flooring and
drywall ceilings and walls.
The project at IDU Terrace demonstrates that within a

larger-scale long-term care setting, efforts to breakdown
building mass, increase visual connection with one’s
community and nature, and strategic attention to detail
and finishes are critical in creating dignified spaces for
aging.
88 89

view of glazed dining area during lunch time. view of entry with courtyard garden beyond.

KENYUEN HOME FOR THE ELDERLY
ESUMI, JAPAN
Kenyuen Home for the Elderly was originally intended as

a rehabilitation center for seniors, providing supportive
care, but since its occupancy, it has served more as a
nursing home. It is situated in the coastal town of Esumi
along the southern tip of the Wakayama prefecture, in
a natural park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In close
proximity to the site are an elementary school and a
junior high school, but it is the Ocean at its south and
east which commands attention. The relationship to the
ocean forms a significant reference point for the design
of the building, making a connection with the residents
of the area who are mainly fishermen. In its neighbouring
town of Susami, the cultural heritage and pride in this
local trade is proudly on display at the train station.
Seeking to draw from the residents’ connection with the

ocean and to each other, the main design concepts of
the building seek to: enhance the relationship between
interior and exterior space through adept siting and
use of transparency; deepen the penetration of natural
light into the floor plan to heighten awareness of time
and season; preserve dignity in the layered transitional
spaces between private rooms and common areas
celebrate shared space to create an inviting venue for
visiting friends and family
The Z-shaped building is oriented along the north-south

axis to maximize views to the ocean from all private
rooms and common areas. The exterior facade is
composed mainly of dark, exposed concrete, resonating
with the cliffs on which the building is situated. As one
approaches the building, the main entry is formed by
a glazed bar which links the two residential wings (one
View of the dark, exposed concrete exterior of the Kenyuen Home for the Elderly from the main access road. facing west, the other to the east). Entering into the
building at its most transparent and narrow point, the
90 view of the ocean beyond pulls one’s gaze through the 91
building and intensifies the relationship of the residence
with its natural surroundings. Due to the topographical
change of the site, the entrance is situated in the middle
of the building, both in plan and section. With its specific
views to the exterior, it serves as a natural orientation

device between the two wings.
The residence serves 75 care places (62 single rooms

and 13 double rooms) which are distributed in a
configuration of 20 “flats” over three floors of the west
and east wings. With the large numbers of residents
required by the institution, Muramatsu has sought to
break down the interior spaces into more human scaled
“flats” which consist either of two single flats around
a shared bathroom and living space; or a double room
adjacent to a public lounge area. While the double
exterior view facing the ocean.
Drawings courtesy of Muramatsu Architects.
rooms and shared bathrooms in this project may reflect
outdated health regulations of its time, the diversity of
spatial groupings and sequences between private and
semi-public spaces inspire varied considerations on
how to preserve dignity as an individual moves fluidly
between a place of their own and that in which they may
seek support from or connection with others.
Within the rooms themselves, the main focus is

the glazed window and view to the ocean which is
reinforced by the placement of the washbasin and
bed. With this exterior outlook, rhythms of daylight and
seasonality can be appreciated and cued in with the
rituals of daily life.
Muramatsu also employs various other strategies to

amplify daylight into the building. All rooms in each of
the wings are located along a single-loaded corridor
with glazing. Within each private room, the ceiling raises
operable clerestory windows above doors of private rooms. towards the window to increase the surface area of
the glazing. Operable clerestory windows are provided
above the door threshold to provide more light and
natural ventilation into the private rooms as well. Even
at the ground floor of the west wing where views to the
exterior would have faced the parking lot, skylights are
provided above the lounge areas to bring light deep into
this space.
In addition to the private rooms, the east wing includes a

variety of therapy areas and a medical clinic. The dining
areas are located either in the glazed central bar or at
the hinge point between the central bar and the east
wing in a dramatic two storey space. All therapy and
dining areas are visually striking due to their extensive
glazing and views to its surroundings and exterior
terraces.
Similar to IDU Terrace, the haptic elements with

view from a typical private room.
which residents and staff interact on a daily basis
(i.e. handrails, benches, nursing stations, doors, etc.)
92 93
are highlighted in wood finishes, giving warmth and
approachability in their varied uses. All other finishes
are basic, in keeping with budgetary demands, utilizing
linoleum flooring and drywall ceilings and walls.
With a focus on entwining the building with nature,

amplifying natural daylight, and breaking down interior
spaces with thoughtful transitions between public and
private, Kenyuen seeks to humanize and dignify the
experience of aging within a larger institutional setting.
single-loaded corridors are typical throughout kenyuen. typical semi-public gathering space.

WINDMILL COURT
CHINGFORD, UNITED KINGDOM
Windmill Court was planned as a 100% affordable

assisted living housing in the suburb of Chingford,
approximately 30 kilometers northeast of London. It is
located in a mainly residential district, mid-way down a
typical neighbourhood block.
The main design features of the project emphasize the

independence of each unit, while facilitating visual and
physical connections to the exterior. The amplification
of natural light in each apartment, as well as in the
communal spaces, is also a key driving factor in the
design of the residence.
The building is composed of a long, linear bar at

street front, joined through the “heart” of the building’s
communal spaces to a smaller L-shaped building
housing more apartments. As one approaches the main
entry of the building, one is struck by the textured buff
brick facade, articulated by the balconies and window
frames which help to break down the length of the
elevation. One enters the building mid-block at the
transparent opening of the building, which contains
many of the communal spaces.
The residence provides for 44 assisted living units

which are dispersed over three floors. One of the
distinctive features of this project is the exterior gallery
access to each residential unit which emphasizes
the independence of each dwelling within the larger
scheme. The thresholds into each unit are intentionally
stepped back to create a layered entry sequence which
accommodates for practical items such as scooter
parking, a bench, and a dedicated electrical meter.
view of windmill court facade at street front.
Each individual apartment, as a result of the gallery
94 access, is afforded dual aspects from within, with 95
visual and physical connections to the exterior. At the
opposing end of each entry is a pair of balconies: an
open balcony for summer and a glazed balcony for
winter. The glazed balcony includes both operable
windows and a ventilation panel while both balconies

provide room for extra storage. All interiors for the
units comply with accessibility standards. Certain
appliances such as the stove are provided, while others
are provided only with hook-ups, to allow residents the
option of using shared amenities, such as laundry, if
desired.
The common spaces, such as the dining, multi-purpose

room, library, and small meeting room are clustered
in the core of the building plan. They are all very well
lit and face onto exterior courtyards or terraces. The
“Pampering Room” (i.e. tub room) and therapy room
stepped threshold condition at entry to a unit. view of exterior gallery access to the individual residential units.

also provide significant amount of light, but respects
privacy through a sandblasted finish.
While the built form of the residence has been

recognized to feature many of the best practices
promoted by the HAPPI report, it nonetheless faces
some challenges in its final use. As the Ministry for
Housing did not apply any age or care restrictions
for application, the change in expected demography
of the residence meant that in reality the amount of
care required was underestimated by the operations
team. While that was adjusted over time, the shift to
a concentration of less mobile and more dependent
residents also meant that the common spaces were not
utilized in the same way as was imagined.
Similar to many other projects of this type, the intent

was also to develop a restaurant in the building
which would serve the residents as well as the larger
neighbourhood for income generation. However,
ensuring financial viability requires a certain scale for
delivery and siting to attract outside clients. As this
project lacked either element, in the end, the restaurant
could not retain an operator and as such, is rarely used.
These challenges underline the importance of

considering how to build in for resilience, whether it
be in the building or the systems. While changes in
residential makeup will occur inevitably, the design
of public, semi-private, and private spaces and how
they are configured to speak to a range of abilities and
participation are really critical in maintaining communal
life in senior housing. Equally important to the spaces
themselves is the design of the programming to work
with the specificity and strengths of the project in its
context.
View of glazed winter balcony showing operable windows and ventilation panel. View of winter balcony with operable windows in use.
96 97

typical upper floor plan ground floor plan
Drawing courtesy of PRP Architects. Drawing courtesy of PRP Architects. typical unit plans.
Drawings courtesy of PRP Architects.

DIAKONISSESTIFTELSEN
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
The Diakonissestiftelsen was created 150 years ago by

Queen Louise of Denmark to increase opportunities for
nursing education. What developed was a hospital and
home for the Deacon sisters, forming a community of
service as well as education. Since their beginnings,
the foundation has served an important role in
Danish welfare. At their Frederiksberg headquarters
in Copenhagen, the foundation recently developed
47 senior dwelling units within their existing complex
which includes: a Learning Centre for health education,
a senior care home, student housing, a psychiatric
community, private homecare provider services, the
Emmaus church, a second hand store, a kitchen and
conference centre, and a bakery
In 2013, the Foundation created a strategic

“Development Plan 2020” to envision how their
organization could be adapted to modernize their
offerings in education, health, and care to match the
changing needs of the future. Part of the plan included
the development of senior dwelling units, a hospice, and
a community hub which opens up the foundation with
greater connections to the neighbourhood. The highly
celebrated hospice, designed by NORD Architects was
completed in 2016, and a portion of the senior dwelling
units were completed earlier this year.
The development of the senior dwellings came first

through a senior outreach and consultation process
which involved both surveys and meetings to help
inform the building programme. Those participating were
not necessarily guaranteed a dwelling as the residences
are rental units with an application process through the
Foundation. However, it created a necessary dialogue
which motivated both parties.
98 99
The development of the senior dwelling units seeks
to mediate between the larger, existing, institutional
complex of the Diakonissestiftelsen and the
neighbourhood to its south. The demolition of existing
buildings on site provided the location for 6 small-rise

buildings which sensitively step from 4 stories down
to 2 as it meets the residential street it faces. The
placement of these blocks also create various pockets
of communal, green space which are shared between
the residents, the foundation, and the neighbourhood.
As these spaces are widely distributed across the site,
they create places of discovery upon each visit as they
are not all visibly apparent upon first glance. The result
forms an interplay of overlapping private and semi-
private spaces.
Exterior view of the apartment blocks showing a mix of brick and zinc clad facadeS.
Image courtesy of Vandkunsten.

The buildings are composed of a brick base (which
matches closely the brick of the former buildings on site)
and zinc cladding at the upper stories. The bricks from
the demolished buildings were reused as pavers at the
ground floors of the apartment blocks, tying together
the inside and outside space through material continuity.
The recycled brick is also used in the ancillary structures
adjacent to the apartment blocks, such as the bicycle
sheds. The consistent use of brick helps to create visual
cohesion amongst the group of buildings.
The main layout of the building increases the diagonal

aspects in order to bring daylight deep into the building.
This illuminates the central atrium, gangways of
circulation, and the main staircase to encourage social
encounters and active movement.
Intended to streamline and control the construction

process, each apartment is made from two modular
units which are pre-fabricated off site and assembled
in-situ. The apartments within each block vary in size
and are all designed to be fully adaptable. Fittings in
both the bedroom and kitchen have been prepared to
accommodate for lowered counters, with the oven in
already set at a lower height. Much attention was given
to details, such as the lighting, hardware, and storage, in
consultation with occupational therapists.
Meeting with one of the residents, it was clear that the

success of living in the residences also derives from
each individual’s involvement in the community which
is organized through various committees. Each resident
is thus personally engaged in the development of
ongoing programmes and activities which has provided
many social opportunities while respecting individual
preferences. In addition to the individual apartment
units, the residents have access to a “common house”
with a communal kitchen in the adjacent existing atrium view looking up to the circulation gangways above.
building of the Foundation. It is here, or just outside

100 101
during the summer months, that the residents have
communal meals when organized or their weekly coffee
times on Tuesdays.
The senior dwellings at the Diakonissestiftelsen

exemplify how communities for the elderly can be

fostered between an institution and its existing
neighbourhood. As the residents settle into their
new homes and further elements of the Diakonisse’s
development plan are realized, the community that is
growing will be supported by the design of the built
environment provided to encourage exchange within
the complex of the foundation as well as its surrounding
neighbourhood.
main stair washed in daylight by skylight above. typical section through atrium space. typical floor plan.
Drawing courtesy of Vandkunsten. Drawing courtesy of Vandkunsten.

GENERATIONS HOUSE
AARHUS, DENMARK
Through the development of its eastern habourfront,

the city of Aarhus continues to diversify access to one
of the city’s prime districts, right at the water’s edge. By
incorporating a range of commercial, housing, office,
and recreational opportunities in both rental and market
offerings, a balanced mix of tenure in the masterplan
aims to avoid an over-concentration of private housing
at the waterfront. In this vein, the Generations House,
one of the current projects under construction at the
northern portion of the “Aarhus Ø”, reinforces the
ambition of the municipality in fostering an integrated
and age-friendly neighbourhood.
The Generations House began as a need from the

municipality to provide for more care places in the
city, which sparked its inclusion within the Aarhus Ø
masterplan. The city was intent on finding synergies
between care dwellings and other programmes, in
search for mediation between the typical care home
and mainstream housing available in Denmark. Because
Danish policies have placed heavy emphasis on home
care for healthy and moderately-healthy seniors, this has
skewed the residential makeup of “care homes” to those
who require significant care, tending towards individuals
with dementia.
Tackling this complex endeavour required a collaborative

approach which spanned across four entities in Aarhus:
the Ministry for Children and Youth (MBU, Børn og
unge), the Ministry for Health and Care (MSO, Sundhed
og omsorg), the Ministry for Social Relations and
Occupations (MSB, Sociale forhold og beskæftigelse),
and the Brabrand Housing Association (Brabrand
Boligforening)
102 The programme was derived through government review 103

as well as through public consultation, which in its final
form will accommodate:
• 100 care units for the elderly (for intensive care
needs)
• 100 units for senior living (of which 28 would be

convertible to care units)
• 12 units for individuals with physical disabilities
• 12 units for individuals with acquired brain injuries
• 40 units for youth / students
• 40 units for families
• an integrated daycare centre & 9 children’s groups
for a total of 150 children (with room to grow to 190)
Similar to the overall masterplan for the area, the

conceptual framework for the Generations House
centres on improving diversity and integration in its
approach to residential design. The creation of a exterior rendering of the generations house.

large scale, multi-generational housing development the larger community are offered to varying degrees.
draws parallels from its analogue in detached multi- Main public and common spaces are provided at the
generational housing typologies. At a larger scale ground floor of each building which reach out beyond
however, this would entail going beyond adjacencies of the project to the neighbourhood beyond. These include
segregated residential blocks, to a specifically designed the daycare centre, outdoor green spaces, cafe, and a
arrangement which intentionally mixes the generations in theatre. At each floor, semi-private gathering spaces are
the planning of the dwellings. offered in close proximity to the individual houses and
maximize the usage of circulation space for interaction
Underlining this philosophy is the research which amongst residents. “Pit stops” are strategically
supports the growing evidence that loneliness is a dispersed throughout the floor plan to support
major determinant in aging well. This has required the integrated, multi-disciplinary work spaces for the various
team for the Generations House to shift their thinking management, service, and care staff required.
– from institution to a house; from disciplinary silos
to interdisciplinary collaboration; and from specific Universal design is a key component of interior design,
programming to resourcefulness and synergies (in the with an accessibility auditor contracted for this project.
spatial, professional, and economic sense). For example, wayfinding is addressed through subtle
North elevation showing variety in material expression of the facade, to differentiate between apartment blocks. changes in the materiality of the flooring, wall colours,
The goals of the conceptual framework are addressed and differentiation of each threshold experience.
at various scales, beginning with the massing strategy.
The main design intent is to reduce the perceived The level of consideration given to the public spaces
scale of the project through the creation of eight, is similarly seen in addressing the specific needs of
8-storey building blocks instead of one large housing individual apartments for a wide range of individuals.
development. To reinforce this concept, the material In addressing the needs of the elderly care and senior
expression of each building is varied, creating distinct apartments, the architects acknowledge the enlarged
facades which feature a mixture of concrete, slate, spatial requirements in anticipation of equipment and
and masonry. The design proposal emphasizes the lifts through the generosity of rooms where possible and
recreation of a small, multi-generational village with the use of “borrowed space” where needed. Specifically,
regards to scale, grain, and experience, where the space for residents with dementia, the underlying principle is
between buildings is just as important as the buildings to avoid segregation through the use of locked doors.
themselves. The “gaps” created between the four Instead, much research is placed on the use and
buildings afford multi-directional views from block to locations of sensors and assistive technology to address
block, encouraging a certain level of visual engagement this issue in a more dignified manner.
between residents.
The project is currently under construction with an
longitudinal section through the apartment blocks.
Within the buildings themselves, the apartment blocks expected completion date in 2020. As construction
are divided at each level into smaller “houses” which progress over the next two years, the city continues to
accommodate a variation of housing configurations focus on finalizing details for the operations and social
across generations. The only exception is the care home organization of the residence, which form a critical
units, which due to their specific needs, are located complement to the project.
104 105
altogether in the apartment blocks which bookend the
complex. The connections between the care home units
to the public spaces below and between the buildings
are maintained however so that residents are not
isolated.

While aspirations for such a truly mixed, multi-
generational housing situation may seem idealistic,
the city of Aarhus and design architects have worked
diligently on addressing the challenges which arise
from this novel arrangement. From an architectural
perspective, this has meant sensitively designing
variations and transitional gradations from public to
semi-private to private spaces in order to respond
to a diversity of individuals, living collectively and
independently at the same time.
While each individual or family will be afforded their
The Generations House with its surrounding context at the northern portion of the Aarhus Ø district.
Drawings courtesy of ERIK Arkitekter. own private dwelling unit, opportunities to engage with
HERFRA TIL EVIGHEDEN & EGEBAKKEN
ROSKILDE & FREDENSBORG, DENMARK
Since the late 1980s, Denmark has seen a rise of senior

cohousing communities as a subset of the cohousing
movement. The benefits of community and informal
social networks which such a housing arrangement
can foster are appealing to elders who in many cases
are approaching their next phase of later life as “empty
nesters”.
Two such senior cohousing communities include Herfra

til Evigheden (or “Højen”) in Roskilde and Egebakken
in Nødebo. The similarity in both their narratives for
realizing this specific form of housing is striking. In both
cases, the projects began through the formation of a
club, gathering like-minded individuals interested in the
development of a senior cohousing community for a
specific area. The amount of interest and commitment
from individuals of these clubs would determine the size
of the project. For example, the Højen was initiated by
5 couples whose club grew to 24 families, with the final
development providing for 26 houses and a common
house. Similarly, Egebakken was initiated by 5 couples
who gathered 40 families for an interest list, with 20
families finally committing to an investment for the
build. Final development provided for 29 houses and a
common house. The interested families invested capital
for initiating the development, with final construction
costs divided amongst families upon completion.
In both situations, the clubs lobbied their respective

municipalities regarding their development. In each
case, the municipality was instrumental in making
property available for each group to realize their need
for a significant land acquisition. Due to the desire of
both groups to create a specific senior community view of typical roofscape at herfra til evigheden.
of 50+ years, both properties also required rezoning.
106 When I asked why the group felt an age restriction 107
was important in their community, both residents I
interviewed indicated that they wanted to maintain a
specific focus on seniors’ needs by communing with
those who shared common interests. It was always
assumed that residents in the cohousing development

would be suitable for independent living.
Interestingly, both groups engaged Vandkunsten to

design their communities. This may not be surprising
as Vandkunsten has had a long history working on
cohousing developments, starting with one of the firm’s
earliest and most influential projects, Tinggarden (1971-
1978). Through this project, they have been recognized
for their sensitive spatial skills and design solutions
which encourage social cohesion. In both the Højen
and Egebakken, Vandkunsten laid out the general
masterplan of the properties to maintain an overall herfra til evigheden site plan egebakken site plan
exterior view of residences at egebakken. Drawings courtesy of Vandkunsten.

design consistency regarding housing configurations currently facing. For example, the construction costs
and site layout. Concurrently, they worked very closely for both projects ended up being more expensive than
with each of the residents to customize individual planned, due to the customization of each house. For
homes. construction companies bidding on the project, what
appeared on the surface to be tract homes, were in
Common requests from each group of residents reality, dozens of individualized houses. This raises a
resulted in similar architectural features, manifested challenge for architects to consider how customization
through differing architectural expressions. The desire at this scale can be addressed in a more cost-effective
for ample daylight in the individual houses resulted in manner. At the Højen, residents also came to realize the
strategic placement of enlarged windows and expressive importance of covered, exterior gathering spaces as well
skylights in the massing of houses on both projects. as the circulation spaces between buildings in their daily
The connection between interior and exterior space is lives. They realized that together with the design team,
highlighted both at the entry to the houses and at the they had not appreciated these areas enough during the
access to individual gardens. design process, while placing more emphasis on the
individual homes and common house.
Both developments also allowed for flexibility in
adaptation, either in the overall housing configuration One of the issues, which both communities currently
or interior divisions. At Egebakken, this is evident in face, arises from the fact that the cohousing
the main large space of the house, which could be development initially drew similarly aged couples
subdivided into two rooms. Add-on features like another together in this specific endeavour. As a result, one of
bedroom, an enclosed garage, or winter garden were the outcomes has been that the residents are all entering
also options that were explored between each family into older age as a cohort together. As the groups looks
and the architect. Underlining design discussions forward, they foresee that this may affect the rate of
between residents and the architects was also a view sales within their community as well as the general rise
towards future maintenance of the buildings. This in need for support, beyond informal provisions amongst
required strategic investments in quality materials in neighbours and home care service. In an effort to create
areas with would reap the most long-term benefit. interest in the “young-old” for joining a community of
“older-old”, Egebakken has realized that the need for
Residents described that a major motivation for some form of diversity is necessary. In that effort, they
joining such a community was having greater social have begun to expand the membership of the co-
engagement with their neighbours, in addition to being housing community to include non-resident seniors from
able to age well in their own homes. The success of the greater area who would be offered access to the
these cohousing communities for the residents lies also use of the common house and planned activities. These
in the social organization that accompanies this type non-residents would in turn be placed on a waiting list
of living. At both the Højen and Egebakken, residents should properties be available for sale.
are actively involved in various committees and boards
which deal with topics ranging from operations and Discussing both the success and challenges of these
exterior view of the common house, gathering space, and playground at herfra til evigheden.
maintenance, to social activities, to daily living support specific senior cohousing developments with the
of residents. residents themselves has highlighted the complexities
108 109
of planning sustainable solutions for elder living. They
The need for social integration highlights the importance offer insights to strengths which we can learn from,
of the common house which forms an integral part of such as the importance of community building in the
each development. At the Højen, it is centrally located context of aging well, but also touches on issues such
in the masterplan’s overall courtyard configuration. Their as diversification which require further consideration.
common house features a shared kitchen, woodworking

space, meeting rooms, library, fitness room, guest
suite, and shared laundry facilities. At Egebakken, the
common house serves as an entry marker to the larger
housing complex, where the individual houses are
laid out in an array of four rows. Their common house
features a common kitchen, library, and small crafts and
fitness area.
With the experience of living in each one of the

developments for roughly a decade, the residents I
spoke with were clear with some of the lessons they
view of the main living space and kitchen area in a typical residence at Egebakken. living room at herfra til evigheden. have learned along the way and with issues they are
DE HOGEWEYK
WEESP, NETHERLANDS
For the last 15 years, the Vivium care group has been
rethinking the delivery of care in their dementia-specific
long-term / palliative care residence, De Hogeweyk. At
the helm of changing the philosophy of elder care at this
residence was Eloy van Hal, one of the founders of De
Hogeweyk in its current form.
Before its redevelopment, De Hogeweyk was

representative of the typical, Dutch institutionalized
long-term care facility. Beginning in 1993, however,
the management team began to shift their approach
towards care provision, focusing on resident abilities and
normalizing the resident experience at De Hogeweyk.
What they soon realized was the significant impact
spatial reconfigurations had in this new philosophy of
care provision. Ideas of normalization necessitated
a reduction in scale, allowing residents to commune
in spaces that were more recognizable for human-
scale interactions. Finding ways to engage residents
with aspects of their former daily living activities also
triggered novel concepts in spatial planning.
The team tested these ideas in pilot projects, working

with the existing building of De Hogeweyk. For example,
resident group sizes were minimized to 10 and the
idea of a “house” per floor was introduced. Grouping
residents in the various “houses” according to their
interests also came as a natural progression. Storage
space at the lower floor was turned into a “market”
to allow caregivers the opportunity to bring residents
shopping for their daily needs.
Seeing that each test made over the years had yielded
significant positive changes in their residents, the THE THEATRE FORMS THE ANCHOR POINT AT ONE OF THE COURTYARD SPACES.
team was encouraged to consider redeveloping De
110 Hogeweyk, as an embodiment of their revolutionary 111
care concept. Vivium collaborated together with
Molenaar&Bol&VanDillen architects to translate their
ideas into a larger architectural vision. The concept
of the house was a key feature of the newly imagined
complex, reintroducing independence back into the

residents’ lives. In this new configuration, residents
reasserted agency over their daily activities which
brought them out of the house and in negotiation with
all which that entails. This helped to reinforce the care
team’s focus on resident independence and abilities.
Originally, 23 individual houses were built, with 6-7

residents per house. However, in 2017, 4 additional
houses were constructed, bringing the total to 27
houses. The form of individual houses redraws the
boundary between living and work space in a care
environment. Whereas in typical care settings, these View of the walkways and group of houses around the courtyard. ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPE PLANS UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COURTYARDS IN THE CONFIGURATION OF DE HOGEWEYK.
Drawings courtesy of Molenaar&Bol&VanDillen architekten.

spaces were often overlaid, the conscious act of activities desired to be paid separately. Clubs offer
entering and leaving the house has reassigned hierarchy differing levels of participation according to a wide range
to resident privacy in their living space. Small details of interests including arts and crafts, fitness, music, and
such as the care team ringing the doorbell before film.
entering the house form significant strides towards
maintaining dignity. Overnight supervision is carried While the success of De Hogeweyk is no doubt a
out only through acoustic sensors in resident rooms, reflection of well-considered design (of both care
which are monitored by night staff at the entry reception and environment), it is important to note that it is a
building. They are supported additionally by 5-6 staff state-funded residence, receiving the same operating
throughout the complex. Only the front door of each budget as other care homes. Often, there has been the
house is locked overnight. presumption that this model is possible only as a result
of increased costs to the resident. Instead, implementing
Following from what Vivium discovered in their pilot this innovative care concept required rethinking resource
projects, residents are grouped according to their allocation to ensure its financial viability. For example,
interests, with the interiors of each house designed to the concept of the supermarket is merely a rethinking
reflect their lifestyles. Through observation, the care in logistics regarding storage and redistribution. Instead
group recognized that residents were more relaxed when of having storage rooms and utilizing separate staff to
they were around similar people and engaged in familiar distribute items, these functions are taken over between
activities. They found that having similar interests in food caregiver and residents in their daily activities. To
and surroundings helped ease residents’ frustration and minimize the number of medical experts on the team,
underlined the importance of maintaining a social life, Vivium has prioritized their primary role as advising and
whatever one’s age. From their demographic group, coaching caregivers, who in turn manage residents
Vivium decided to represent 7 different lifestyles: Artisan, during their day-to-day interactions. With this shift in
Christian, Cultural, Gooise, Homey, Indonesian, and approach, the care group have found strategic ways to
Urban. deliver extraordinary care, on budget.
Each of the individual houses are configured around Despite the fact that their novel approach to care and
6 courtyard spaces which form key landmarks for care environments have made a significant positive
wayfinding. Much attention was given by the landscape impact on their residents, the care group has also had
architects in creating differentiated outdoor spaces, a chance to reflect on areas which they would like to
serving as diverse backdrops for resident walks and grow as they move forward. One of the main objectives
family gatherings. Instead of securing residents in is increasing the connection of the residence with
wards, which has been the tendency in other care its surrounding community. This could be achieved
residences, the provision of generous outdoor spaces by firstly creating a more inviting exterior facade and
allow wandering behaviour to occur in a more natural finding a way to create a more visible connection
and purposeful manner, making it a distinct feature of De between the restaurant and the street. Currently, as
Hogeweyk. one approaches the complex, it appears very closed
off. This is reinforced by the singular, controlled point of
The covered, public spaces at De Hogeweyk play just as access at the reception area. Integrating programming
112 113
an important role as the courtyards. The main covered with the greater community has also been discussed.
hall serves as the atrium space for the restaurant, Diversifying the use of the complex through the addition
pub / cafe, and market on site. They also function as of a daycare or kindergarten could be a way to improve
points for community integration as the restaurant, bar, connections with the residents.
and cafe are open to the public. The atrium features
a piano which has found use by residents as well as With the amount of attention De Hogeweyk has

neighbourhood visitors. In addition, a theatre is also garnered, Vivium has expanded to include the “Be”
found in the complex, which is used once a week for Hogeweyk care concept team which focuses on
concerts to the residents. It is also leasable to outside advocacy, advising, and consultation. As De Hogeweyk
organizations, which together with the restaurant and denotes by name (“weyk” meaning a group of houses in
bar /cafe, help offset operating costs. Dutch) and form, the residence illustrates the power of
community living, as part of a new paradigm of care for
As found in other projects, programming forms a vital the elderly with dementia.
part of the residence. At De Hogeweyk, a separate
team is dedicated to organizing activities, in the form
of “clubs”. Residents only sign up for the activities in
which they are interested. Each resident receives one
View of the restaurant interior at De Hogeweyk with central atrium space beyond. complimentary activity per week, with any additional
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H O M E: H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship 2018 Monica Leung

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H O M E: H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship 2018 Monica Leung

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HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

2018 H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship

Aging: A View Across Countries 9

More Resources 114

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HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

17 Yoshibumi Machiya 05 Laneway House

2018 H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship

• With a national identity often linked to multiculturalism,

• Increases in housing prices in certain urban centres are

• Availability of universal health care and home care

• A medicalized approach still pervades the current

ABOVE + RIGHT: Southeast

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FAR RIGHT: View of the multi- Southeast Personal Southeast collegiate

2018 H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship

• Layered spaces in built form are culturally important

• Despite the grand scale of major Japanese cities,

•The spatial constraints of Japanese cities have fostered

• The connection between built environment and nature

ABOVE: Historic roji lanes form the

HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

• Building quality, affordable housing represents a

• Social equality and the sharing of household

• Heavy state-funding for elder care has had both

• The resulting elder care landscape is one where “care

• However, because the Netherlands has historically

LEFT + ABOVE: Farum Midtpunkt

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MIDDLE: The iconic Het Schip

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RIGHT: The structuralist method

INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT

INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE

Senior Specific Residences

Single Family House

Day Care / Service

INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT

INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUAL COLLECTIVE

Senior Specific Residences

Single Family House

Apartments for Life

Local Service Area

Campus of Care WoZoCo

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Home Care Institutional Care Home Care

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These themes help to reposition the approaches and

Similarly, other projects achieve a smaller scale by

• At Diakonissestiftelsen [p. 98], 6 low-rise senior

• Senior cohousing communities of Egebakken

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diakonissestiftelsen senior apartments - vandkunsten

Semi-Public / Public Space

HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

HOME: Housing Our Mature Elders

• At the Union Street ECOHeritage project in the

• At the University of Calgary [p.74], professor John

• At the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the thesis