CLASS OF 2021_ECKARD, AC by jacques_23

ACCOMMODATING THE SILVER TSUNAMI: THE DESIGN OF A INTERGENERATIONAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN MAYVILLE, PRETORIA. By: Abraham Christiaan Eckard 216210468 Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE at the DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN in the FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT at the TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Supervisor: Dr MJ Stander Design Supervisor: Ms M Bolt PRETORIA 2021

DECLARATION OF PLAGIARISM: I (full names & surname): Abraham Christiaan Eckard Student Number: 216210468 Declare the following: 1. I understand what plagiarism entails and I am aware of the University’s policy in this regard. 2. I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. Where someone else’s work was used, it was acknowledged and reference was made according to departmental requirements. 3. I did not copy and paste any information directly from an electronic source (e.g., a web page, electronic journal article or CD ROM) into this document. 4. I did not make use of another student’s previous work and submitted it as my own. 5. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of presenting it as his/her own work. I further declare that this research proposal is substantially my own work. Where reference is made to the works of others, the extent to which that work has been used is indicated and fully acknowledged in the text and list of references. Signature:

Date: November 2021

ABSTRACT Medical technology is rapidly advancing and optimising health, drastically increasing life expectancy. Due to the increase in the current population’s life expectancy, the elderly live in retirement longer than ever before. In a modern consumerist society, the pace of life is increasing. The focus of life is evolving towards wealth acquisition and materialism instead of the family-centric lifestyles of the past generations. This shift in priorities has led to the elderly being partially abandoned at retirement homes and discarded by their relatives. The neglected elderly person decays into depressed husks of their former selves, feeling an inflated sense of worthlessness and rejection. Most elderly are afraid to break their ties with their previous ‘forever-homes’ and prefer familiar spaces where they put down their life’s roots. The elderly can hinder themselves from getting the proper care they need in old age because they stay in their previous homes. As part of this research, the proposed intergenerational retirement community will focus on housing the rapidly ageing population of South Africa by providing them with the proper care they need regarding their physical and mental health. These needs will be met by investigating the appropriate design requirements to house the elderly properly and include non-familial social groups of various generations throughout the building to create a sense of community. This research aims to better integrate the elderly into society by investigating how new-age retirement homes could be seen as the elderly’s new ‘forever home’ by creating a sense of community, rather than the current institutionalised facilities that feel like hospitals for the elderly.

KEYWORDS: Architecture of ageing, community, elderly, intergenerational social spaces, retirement

My Architecture Family.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: First and foremost, I would like to give all the glory to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, for giving me the required strength during the process of finishing this mini-dissertation. Thank You for never abandoning me, even in my hours of need. To my Design supervisor: Ms M Bolt for the time invested in me and my project and for motivating me in difficult times. Thank you very much for the guidance and patience. To my mother, Ronel and my father, Riaan: Thank you very much for all the opportunities you have given me up until this point in my life. Thank you for all the support you had given me through these hard 6 years of Architecture school, and thank you for always being there when the tears flowed, whether it was 4 PM or 4 AM. To my sister, Deidre: Thank you very much for all the effort you have put into my studies, whether it is hand cutting my models when the laser cutter isn’t working or helping me build models through the night. Thank you for the constant motivation and support. To my best friend, Shaun: Thank you for the endless support and jokes. I really appreciate our weekly check-in sessions at lunch. To all the friends who walked this path alongside me these last 6 years: Thank you very much for the endless support, motivation, and change for the vending machine. I would not have been able to complete my 6 years of studies if it were not for all of you. Thank you for being my chosen family. A special thanks to Sieg & Carla Schmidt for showing kindness and insightful assistance in my hour of need. Thank you for the huge impact you had on the project. Lastly, thank you to TUT’s Department of Architecture for the opportunity to meet the incredible people in my life over the last 6 years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: 1.1 1.2 1.3

PREFACE THE SILVER TSUNAMI OUTLINE BRIEF

1 3 6

CHAPTER TWO: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM: 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5

THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC GRANNY DUMPING THE ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM THE SOCIAL PROBLEM THE MAIN PROBLEM STATEMEN

9 11 12 17 18

CHAPTER THREE: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS: 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

LOCATION 21 SITE CRITERIA 22 ZONING 30 ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION 32

CHAPTER FOUR: ADRESSING THE PROBLEM: 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

DELIMITATIONS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY DESIGN PHILOSOPHY CAN DESIGN HELP OVERCOME LONELINESS?

35 35 36 38

CHAPTER FIVE: PROGRAMME AND ACCOMMODATIONS: 5.1 5.2 5.3

PROGRAMME USER CLASSIFICATION ACCOMMODATION

41 41 44

CHAPTER SIX: CONCEPT & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: 6.1 6.2

CONCEPT STARTING PRINCIPLES FOT THE RETIREMENT STRATEGY 6.2.1 NEW URBANISM 6.2.2 INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING/LIVING 6.2.3 PUBLIC SPACE PRECEDENT 1: THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND GARDENS AT HUDSON YARDS PRECEDENT 2: LAS RAMBLAS 6.2.4 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE PRECEDENT 3: KENYUEN HOME FOR THE ELDERLY PRECEDENT 4: THALGAU HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN’S NURSERY 6.3 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

48 49 49 54 55 61 63 66 67 71 75

CHAPTER SEVEN: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION: 7.1 7.2

SFN209M: SPECIFICATIONS V CDO209M: CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION V

105 111

CHAPTER EIGHT: DESIGN RESOLUTION: 8.1 8.2

RESOLVED DESIGN CONCLUSION

121 142

REFERENCES: LIST OF FIGURES REFERENCE LIST

145 150

APPENDICES: APPENDIX 1: EDGES APPENDIX 2: PUBLIC PLACES: APPENDIX 3: ROOF AS 5TH ELEVATION

155 159 161

“Some people say dying alone is a fate worse than death itself. Well, they should try being alone during the living part sometimes.” (Noggin, John Whaley, 2014, p. 35)

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: 1.1

PREFACE

1.2

THE SILVER TSUNAMI

1.3

OUTLINE BRIEF

1.1 PREFACE:

01: INTRODUCTION

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the pervasiveness of social contact within and social relevance of nearly every sector of life, including employment, entertainment, travel, transport, and recreation. Even though I am a person who was very uncomfortable with physical contact before the pandemic, the lack of social interaction in isolation made me realise that I am afraid of being alone. With all the extra time that I had to be alone with my thoughts in 2020, this discovered fear of loneliness amalgamated with one of my other fears – that of growing old. I find the idea unnerving of growing old alone, disconnected from my loved ones, and dying alone in a small 3 x 3m room at a retirement home.

Since 2012, I have lost two of my grandparents due to illnesses (organ failure and Alzheimer’s disease), and they were forced to live out the remainder of their lives in a full-assisted-care facility. Seeing them living their final months in lifeless beige squares made me afraid that I would have to live in the same situation when I am old. While not living through their experiences, I did experience the after-effects of seeing my remaining grandparents having to relocate from their long-term homes into retirement facilities that were not the perfect fit for them. Both of my grandparents came from a manual labour background (construction and farming). FIGURE 1.1: My Grandmother and Sister on 35mm film. (Author, 2021).

FIGURE 1.2: My Grandfather and Mother on 35mm film. (Author, 2021).

My grandparents downsized their lives from being active in their careers to inactive in retirement. I noticed that they became lonely and depressed. After losing their life partners and retiring, they became recluses and neglected themselves socially and physically. It saddens me deeply to see them in this state because I still have vivid memories of the people they used to be. It is a heart-breaking experience to see loved people decay in a retirement facility that is not the right fit for them.

01 INTRODUCTION

I chose the topic of retirement because of my personal connection. I wanted to investigate what a retirement home truly is and how architecture could aid the elderly in retirement by allowing them to live socially fulfilling lives in old age. Ageing is inevitable, and I will have to move into a retirement community one day. I wish to contribute to the change needed in the hope that when I retire, the concept of a retirement home has evolved enough to cater for my social and emotional needs, allowing me to enjoy a fulfilled and productive old age.

1.2 THE SILVER TSUNAMI:

Demographers and economists first used

01: INTRODUCTION

the term ‘silver tsunami’ when the baby boomer generation entered their 60s. The term refers to the increased number of elderly people around the world who are approaching retirement age and the effect that this amount of people needing a place to retire has on residential landscapes. In 2020, the silver tsunami highlights sobering trends (Geber 2020). The baby boomer generation’s influence will create an upheaval to the economy when they leave the workforce (both government and industry), as well as when they downsize and sell their homes during this saturated housing market (Geber, 2020).

Medical technology is rapidly advancing and optimising health, drastically increasing the average person’s life expectancy. Due to the increase in the current population’s life expectancy, the elderly live in retirement longer than ever. Life expectancy among the elderly (60 and older) has risen from 1.1% in 2002 to 3% in 2020 (Statistics South Africa, 2020). This increase in the elderly population will have a drastic impact on the residential landscape of

South Africa. This increase will directly affect

priorities of the younger generations have

the demand for suitable living environments for the elderly population (Sauer, 2020).

shifted from the family-centric lifestyles of the past generations and towards accumulating wealth and material objects. This shift in lifestyle has led to the partial abandonment of the elderly in small rooms in retirement homes. These elderly people then develop a sense of worthlessness and rejection and soon succumb to depression, which turns them into husks of their former selves. Architects and designers must approach design challenges in the changing residential landscape and create strategies that could help ease the pressure on the retirement landscape.

The latest information available from Statistics South Africa’s (2020) mid-year population estimates reports that the elderly (60 and older) makes up less than ten percent (9.12%) of South Africa’s population – that is, around 5.3 million people. Almost a quarter (24%) of those 5.3 million people, which is the highest percentage of the reported elderly population in South Africa, reside in Gauteng Province. Estimates claim that by 2030, 10.2% of South Africa’s population will be older than 60 years, and by 2050 the estimate will rise to 16%. Of the projected 75 million people in 2050, roughly 12 million would be ready to retire and need a place to live out the remainder of their lives (IOL, 2020). This impact on the residential landscape is global. The current significant problem with housing for the elderly is that due to modern consumerist society’s lifestyle choices, the

01 INTRODUCTION

FIGURE 1.3: The Silver Tsunami.

01: INTRODUCTION

1.3 OUTLINE BRIEF: This mini-dissertation presents the design of an intergenerational retirement community for the elderly in Mayville, Pretoria. This mini-dissertation explores a possible strategy model for retirement communities for application in various retirement communities throughout the elderly residential landscape of South Africa. The proposed retirement community seeks to create a sense of community and place not only within the boundaries of the site a retirement strategy that bleeds over the edges and creates meaningful connections with the surrounding context. The community will incorporate the elderly that live within the boundaries and extend to the incorporation of individuals (of all ages) who live off the premises. Furthermore, the proposed retirement community will integrate public space and intergenerational social and learning spaces to create a symbiotic relationship between the elderly and younger generations of South Africa. Hopefully, this symbiotic relationship will benefit the younger generations and allow the elderly to regain a new goal and purpose in retirement that could aid in the ongoing battle against loneliness and social isolation. This mini-dissertation explores the following design considerations:

•

• •

Facilitating inclusion and encouraging diversity (in elderly care facilities typically seen as homogenous) to create a socially healthier environment for the elderly. Creating a healthy living environment with a sense of place incorporating various design principles from The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs, A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander, Murray Silverstein, and Sara Ishikawa, and ‘15 principles for designing great civic places’ by Peter Ciemitis. Introducing social elements and public space into a facility that is traditionally seen as a closed-off medical facility. Incorporating nature throughout the proposed retirement community to satisfy the people’s innate need to be connected with nature.

*Intergenerational: relating to, involving, or affecting several generations (lEXICO, N.D.). SITE & CONTEXT

01: INTRODUCTION

•

CHAPTER TWO: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM: 2.1

THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC

2.2

GRANNY DUMPING

2.3

THE ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM

2.4

THE SOCIAL PROBLEM

2.5

THE MAIN PROBLEM STATEMENT

02: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

2.1 THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC:

In 2020, and with continued effects in 2021, the unprecedented pandemic due to COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. Although loneliness and social isolation has always been an issue, the current global quarantine and stay-at-home lockdown orders (although they have positive intentions) have significantly influenced global mental health. The terms ‘loneliness’ and ‘social isolation’ are often misunderstood as the same concept, but the two are distinctly different. The term ‘loneliness’ is defined as a subjective feeling of being alone that leads to sadness and anxiety, while social isolation refers to an objective state of an individual’s

these pressing feelings of abandonment and social isolation are exacerbated by the current COVID-19 pandemic’s rules and restrictions (Hwang, et al., 2020).

social environment. Social isolation can also be described as a near-complete lack of frequent social interactions between individuals and society (Hwang, et al., 2020).

decrease the risk of cardiovascular issues (Yu, et al., 2020).

The older population already experienced loneliness and social isolation before the restrictions were put in place due to functionally dependent relationships with their families and caretakers. However, due to the global initiative for social distancing and isolation,

Various physical and mental repercussions are associated with social isolation and loneliness, such as elevated blood pressure and an increased risk of coronary-arterydisease-related deaths. Further research also shows that loneliness and social isolation are independent risk factors contributing to a higher all-cause mortality rate. Therefore, reducing the loneliness and social isolation experienced by the older population will

Loneliness also affects mental health by increasing depressive symptomatology and functional impairment rates, leading to the inability to perform self-care activities and maintain mobility and directly impacting independence. Untreated depression is directly linked with an increased inability to use public health care services and a reduced

FIGURE 2.1: Despairing Senior Man. (Bialasiewicz, 2015).

ability to self-manage and make self-informed health care decisions regarding physical and mental health. These problems of depression can lead to early mortality (Hansen, et al., 2016). These depression symptoms ultimately lead to an adverse change in the person’s quality of life (Lee, et al., 2019). Due to the older population typically feeling like a burden, it is easier for them to neglect themselves and their physical and emotional needs. According to Hansen, et al. (2016), most self-neglect cases reported by Adult Protective Services (APS) are older adults who live alone in communities with little support and many mismanaged mental and physical health conditions – the most common being depression.

a lesser extent, the rest of the population) raises a question that architecture could possibly solve. How can architects design social living spaces that allow people from all walks of life and social classes to symbiotically live out the flow of life without excluding specific demographics and aid in the ongoing battle against self-neglect and decaying mental health?

*Self-neglect: The physical neglect of an individual’s well-being (Lexico, n.d.).

02: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

This problem currently being experienced by the elderly (and to

2.2 GRANNY DUMPING: Due to the shift in society’s lifestyle choices, significant changes have occurred in the nuclear family structure in recent decades. With the rise of globalisation, the nuclear family’s structure is mainly influenced by the shift in the economy, the nature of the workforce, and the job market expansion beyond international borders, which contributes significantly to the core family’s structure being geographically disconnected (Newman, et al., 2008). This geographical disconnect contributes to the phenomenon known as ‘granny dumping’.

02: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

‘Granny dumping’ is the term used by professionals in the medical and social work

fields and is defined as the active act of abandoning elderly people in public places (Lexico, n.d.), such as hospitals and nursing homes due to the caretakers (usually relatives) who are unwilling and too stressed to care for the elderly. (Lexico, n.d.). Granny dumping is not a new phenomenon and is similar to the centuries-old Japanese ubasute practice. This practice involves familial caretakers of the poorer economic class who take their senile elders to mountaintops to be abandoned

and left to die because the caretakers cannot care for them anymore (Weller, 2017). Albeit more extreme than the current-day granny dumping, I feel that the current retirement home archetype can be seen as the modern-day equivalent of ubasute. Instead of leaving the elderly on mountaintops, families leave the elderly in lifeless beige squares where they will live out the rest of their final days in loneliness and social disconnect.

2.3 THE ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM: Traditional retirement homes are treated as independent and isolated communities that only cater to one specific age demographic. These communities are seen as monotonous entities due to the lack of age diversity among the residents. Although many variations of retirement homes and communities are being developed worldwide, they still serve the same purpose. The basic requirement for a retirement community is for professional caretakers to provide 24-hour assistance for the elderly residents’ daily activities. This essential requirement technically then defines a retirement home as a medical institution with a secondary function as a place for the elderly to reside. According to Dr Steven Foldes (1990), retirement homes serve a

dual purpose as institutions and homes. This means that traditional retirement homes were designed as institutions rather than homes because the model for the traditional retirement home was based on the medicalsomatic model of care. This medical model dictated that traditional retirement homes should be designed to emphasise illnesses and the treatments of underlying pathology. Due to the institutional nature of traditional retirement homes, they are seen as spaces that have to be fortified and protected. With retirement homes designed with these points in mind, the homes resemble hospitals rather than homes due to the lack of autonomy, set rules and routines, and few options for personalisation (Foldes, 1990).

*Medical-somatic model: A model created to focus only on physical symptoms that results in major distress and dysfunction, such as pain and weakness *Pathology: A branch of medicine that focuses on laboratory examinations of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.

02: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

FIGURE 2.2: Sad Mature Indian Woman (Nigam, n.d.).

Figure 2.3 shows the current state of my grandmother’s room in her retirement home. One of the biggest problems with her current retirement home is the lack of seating and social spaces. Due to her inability to walk, it is hard for the family to collect her and take her out for the day. Therefore, most of the family gatherings are held in her tiny room that has inadequate seating. She has a mild case of dementia and lives in a care facility with five other people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There is not much social interaction between the residents, and I can see that my grandmother is socially isolated in her current facility.

02: IDENTIFYING IDENTIFYING THE THE PROBLEM PROBLEM 02:

(Update: As of October 2021, we are in the process of moving my grandmother to a better care facility due to her dementia worsening.)

13 13

FIGURE 2.3: My Grandmother’s Room.

14 14

01 02:INTRODUCTION IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

Figure 2.4 shows the current state of my grandfather’s room. Before my grandfather moved, he lived in an Alzheimer’s disease

02: THE PROBLEM 01: IDENTIFYING INTRODUCTION

care unit to be closer to my grandmother, although he did not have Alzheimer’s disease. After my grandmother’s passing in 2018, he moved into a house with my uncle and aunt. While in the Alzheimer’s disease care unit, the lack of social interaction made my grandfather depressed. However, after moving back in with the family, his mental health and social fulfilment have improved. When my grandfather and uncle bought the house, they renovated it to my grandfather’s liking and requirements, and he has been living there peacefully and happily ever since.

15 15

FIGURE 2.4: My Grandfather’s Room.

16 16

01 02:INTRODUCTION IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

2.4 THE SOCIAL PROBLEM:

02: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

“Old people need old people, but they also need the young, and young people need contact with the old” – A Pattern Language (Alexander, et al., 1977, p. 216)

In A Pattern Language (1977, pp.216-219), Alexander, et al., indicate the natural tendency for the elderly to gather into communities. When these communities become too isolated and clustered, it can lead to segregation within cities and towns with no chance for the various age demographics to benefit from each other’s company. This segregation then causes rifts within each individual’s life: as the older people live in isolated elderly communities, they pass away with their ties to their past and heritage. This loss of wisdom damages the younger generations’ ties due to their history and culture as it is unacknowledged and lost in time. Therefore, dissociation among the young is more prone to happen (Alexander, et al., 1977). In order to reintegrate the elderly socially, they should share the same streets, shops,

services, and public spaces with the rest of the public, enabling social connections. However, the elderly also need a community of other elderly people (Alexander, et al., 1977, p.216). Therefore, according to Alexander, et al. (1977, p. 219), one must design retirement communities so that they can provide the elderly with the proper care they require: 1. Retirement communities should be in the neighbourhood the elderly know best 2. Retirement communities must be small enough to allow the elderly to live together and not isolate them from the rest of the neighbourhood 3. Retirement communities must accommodate elderly people who are still independent enough to live self-sufficiently, without losing the benefits associated with the facility (activity halls, TV rooms, dining halls, etc.) 4. Retirement communities must accommodate the elderly who require nursing care or prepared meals without the elderly travelling far from their neighbourhoods.

With these requirements incorporated into the elderly landscape of South Africa, one could create a strategy to have small pockets of elderly people throughout instead of having a high concentration of elderly in one specific area/district. This spread of the elderly will then allow the symbiosis between the various generations to happen while simultaneously providing the elderly with the support they require within their small communities (Alexander, et al., 1977).

2.5 THE MAIN PROBLEM STATEMENT: Due to the phenomenon known as the silver tsunami and the current rapid pace of life, there is an increase in elderly people who require a place to retire. This increase in the elderly population will have an impact on the residential landscape of South Africa. The current traditional retirement typology is seen as places where people who are too busy and stressed can dump their elderly to live out the remainder of their lives in small, beige, lifeless rooms. This abandonment leads to the elderly having a sense of worthlessness and depression. The depression then allows self-neglect to happen.

02: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

FIGURE 2.5: The Neighbourhood The Elderly Knows The Best.

CHAPTER THREE: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS: 3.1

LOCATION

3.2

SITE CRITERIA

3.3

ZONING 30

3.4

ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION

3.1 LOCATION:

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

Alongside the neighbouring suburbs of Eloffsdal and Villiera in Pretoria, the central-western suburb of Mayville was established in 1896 and is one of Pretoria’s oldest suburbs (South African History Online, n.d.). This site is on the corner of Fred Nicholson Street and Corelli Avenue. The site is directly connected to Mayville pre-primary school and a Telkom SA Substation. There is also a signal tower on the site. Predominantly residential areas surround the site, and the site is adjacent to the Eugene Marais Hospital and the specialists’ offices associated with the hospital.

FIGURE 3.1: Context Maps (Author, 2021).

3.2 SITE CRITERIA: finding the appropriate site for the mini-dissertation: •

Is the site easily accessible to older generations?

•

Is the site close to an educational institution for younger people (Grades 1-12)?

•

the

adjacent

context

appropriate

for

intergenerational interaction? •

Is the adjacent context beneficial to the site?

•

Is the site easily accessible with public transport?

FIGURE 3.2: Pretoria Map (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps).

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

The following criteria were used in the process of

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

FIGURE 3.3: Neighbourhood Scale (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps).

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

FIGURE 3.4: Block Scale (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps).

ACCOMMODATING THE SILVER TSUNAMI

THE DESIGN OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN MAYVILLE, PRETORIA

FIGURE 3.5: Site South-West View (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps).

CHAPTER THREE

SITE & CONTEXT 26

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

ACCOMMODATING THE SILVER TSUNAMI

THE DESIGN OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN MAYVILLE, PRETORIA

FIGURE 3.6: Site Eastern View (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps). 27

CHAPTER THREE

SITE & CONTEXT 28

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS 29

FIGURE 3.7: Site Perspective (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps).

The proposed site is situated in a residential neighbourhood with predominantly one-storey houses and is in the centre of 13 close-by educational facilities ranging from pre-schools to high schools. This proximity to educational facilities and the direct connection to Mayville Pre-Primêr Kleuterskool provide the site with a direct connection with the younger generations of the surrounding context. The entire city block to the eastern side of the proposed site consists of various medical specialists, including maxillofacial and oral surgeons, urologists, orthopaedic surgeons, paediatricians, plastic and reconstruction surgeons, cardiac and thoracic surgeons, physiotherapists, pathologists, and general practitioners. The site is adjacent to the Eugene Marais Hospital and has an almost direct connection to the hospital through the specialists’ offices and Eugene Marais Oncology Centre located next to the site. Having the retirement community site within walking distance of the hospital and its facilities will significantly benefit the elderly due to the short time it would take for a medical team to

reach the facility in the case of an emergency. This proximity eliminates the need for a dedicated specialised medical bay. The oncology centre adjacent to the site also allows residents receiving chemotherapy to reside in a care facility within walking distance of the treatment centre. Due to the amount of time it takes to receive chemotherapy, incorporating a commercial space such as a cafe or restaurant into the retirement community gives non-residents a space to wait for their loved ones receiving chemotherapy (a session can last anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours). The apartment building on the corner of Booysen Street and Corelli Avenue also presents an opportunity to be incorporated into the community at a later phase if the retirement strategy is successful. This expansion gives the elderly of the neighbourhood alternative, independent accommodation that allows them to live close enough to the proposed retirement community to make use of the facility’s amenities and have prepared meals without having to travel a great distance.

Mothwa Haven is a registered old age home. Mothwa Haven houses 80 frail care and semifrail-care elderly people who require shortterm assistance, and therefore has strict rules such as no children (under the age of 12) are allowed and no flowers and plants are allowed in the rooms. Having the proposed intergenerational retirement community close to Mothwa Haven allows the opportunity to form a connection through outreach programmes that act as a communal meeting place for the families of the elderly who reside at Mothwa Haven. FIGURE 3.8: My Grandfather and I at the Oncology Centre

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

3.3 ZONING:

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS 31

FIGURE 3.9: Mayville Bus Route (Author, 2021, Adapted From Google Maps).

3.3 ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION: The Moses Morudu bus stop (part of the A Re-Yeng bus line) is 450m down the road to the east on the corner of Fred Nicholson Street and Mansfield Road. The Moses Morudu bus stop is located on Mansfield Road, a main transport artery connecting the proposed Mayville site to the Pretoria CBD. There is an A Re-Yeng bus stop 170m down Fred Nicholson Street from the proposed site. By having the site near the A Re-Yeng bus line, the staff and occupants of the proposed retirement community have almost direct access to the public transport network in and around Pretoria CBD. The proposed site is 250m away from the Tshwane City Bus Services’ Mayville bus line’s pickup point on Booysen Street. The Mayville bus line runs from Madiba Street and stops in 5th Avenue, Pretoria

The site is connected to the specialists’ offices and Eugene Marais hospital through multiple footpaths. These footpaths are shaded with tree canopies, and the elderly could traverse around the surrounding blocks independently. A new entrance and pedestrian crossing will be proposed on the eastern side of the site to allow a direct access point to the specialists’ offices.

03: CONTEXT AND SITE ANALYSIS

(see Figure 3.9). This connection to the Tshwane City Bus Services provides the staff and occupants with alternative public transportation routes into and around Pretoria CBD.

CHAPTER FOUR: ADRESSING THE PROBLEM: 4.1

DELIMITATIONS

4.2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

4.3

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

4.4

CAN DESIGN HELP OVERCOME LONELINESS?

4.1 DELIMITATIONS: This proposed retirement community will focus only on the aged people who require semi and independent care facilities, as well as the public space required. This mini-dissertation will not cater for the aged people who require assistance with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease due to the facilities required to cater for the mentally disabled being too broad and specialised to research in the time frame assigned to the mini-dissertation. This proposed retirement community will not focus on frail care due to the site’s proximity to Eugene Marais Hospital and its connected specialists’ offices. This mini-dissertation is theoretical and will only use secondary data gathered to understand a retirement community and the challenges associated with the elderly. There will be no interviews conducted for data collection. Where possible, the identity of people in photographs will be concealed to protect their privacy (unless they give permission).

04: ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

4.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

The primary research paradigm used in this research will be constructivism. Constructivism is a philosophical paradigm that states that people create their own understanding of the subject by experiencing and then reflecting on those experiences. This statement means that the knowledge gained to complete this dissertation was by examining the existing retirement residential landscape of South Africa, investigating various design principles, and developing my interpretation of what the retirement residential landscape could be. This study produced and documented plans, sections, elevations, physical models, and details to explore the value that age diversity could contribute to the retirement residential landscape of South Africa by implementing intergenerational spaces.

4.3 DESIGN PHILOSOPHY: I tend to operate more like a systematic designer with a small number of intuitive design approaches and using the modernist design principle of form follows function. My design process begins by looking at the main problem and the problem of the surrounding environment. I imagine how the two problems can be solved as one entity. I use checklists to ensure that the spaces meet the basic needs of the people using them. The function of the spaces is a priority in the design process.

FIGURE 4.1: City Block. (Author, 2021).

04: ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

When the architectural solutions basic requirements are met, I analyse the solutions intuitively to ensure that the spaces catxer to the human scale and experience without alienating the surrounding people and context.

04: ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

FIGURE 4.2: Connection.

4.4 CAN DESIGN HELP OVERCOME LONELINES?: While built spaces alone cannot solve the current mental health crisis experienced globally by the elderly population (and the rest of the world), I speculate that good design can aid and encourage social interaction and inclusivity. In an interview with Melissa Bachelor on her podcast, This is getting old, founder and CEO of Smart Living 360 Ryan Frederick (2020) says that a person’s living environment should be more than just a building. Frederick states that instead of creating uninspired living environments, designers should design living environments that make it easier to interact socially and meet new people, form connections, and hear engaging stories. Castenson (2018) gives an example that can address this statement: design improvements to building entrances and common areas. Instead of designing dark entryways and hallways, designers must refine these spaces to allow social connections to occur, facilitating social interaction between neighbours, friends, and families. This social interaction will lead to people creating connections that will improve their quality of life (Castenson, 2018).

Designers can help combat loneliness by creating architecture that entices natural human curiosity and helps various people find each other in different spaces at different times. This means that spaces must be created not to exclude people but rather to attract people to participate in social activities (Murray, 2015).

04: ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

Meaningful and fulfilling connections between people are one way to help combat the feeling of loneliness and social isolation. Simply forcing people into empty spaces will not ensure meaningful connections due to required social catalysts. Using social catalysts and a good architectural environment, designers help turn connections into meaningful relationships (Peavey, 2020).

CHAPTER FIVE: PROGRAMME AND ACCOMMODATIONS: 5.1

PROGRAMME

5.2

USER CLASSIFICATION

5.3

ACCOMMODATION

5.1 PROGRAMME: The programme for the proposed retirement community will be divided into three main masses. The first mass will house the semi-assisted living quarters and the ground-floor commercial space. The second mass will house the fully-assisted living quarters, the overlapping communal spaces, and the after-school care facility.

05: PROJECT BRIEF, PROGRAMME, AND ACCOMMODATION

The third mass is the publicly accessible space on the ground floor.

FIGURE 5.1: Programme

5.2 USER CLASSIFICATION: The proposed retirement community will host various people throughout the facility. The elderly residents will make up the core demographic of the community, with the young people at the after-school care facility being the next significant demographic. The public will be the third demographic. This is not to exclude the retirement community’s staff.

• Elderly Residents: The elderly are the community’s full-time residents who will live on the premises, where they can choose to stay in either the semi-assisted units or the fully assisted units. The community will allow the resident the freedom to choose whether they want to partake in the social interactions throughout the facility. Social interaction is encouraged due to the elderly residents being the first key connection for intergenerational learning.

Examples of the intergenerational connections for the elderly residents: • A retired librarian with a passion for reading and books, who lives on the premises, could work two • • • • •

days a week in the after-school care facility’s library A doctor from Eugene Marais Hospital could offer first aid classes and help teach the children and elderly how to identify the signs of a stroke or heart attack A retired experienced artist, who lives near the premises, could offer painting and sketching classes to the residents and the children Nursing students could work in the community to gain experience in regards to caring for elderly patients A retired math teacher, who lives on the premises, could give extra math classes to the children at the after-school care facility A computer-whizz-kid at the after-school care facility could show the residents how to perform basic tasks on a computer.

05: PROJECT BRIEF, PROGRAMME, AND ACCOMMODATION

The residents can contribute to the community through activities that vary in skill-level requirements, such as helping with homework and reading, teaching the children how to cook and bake, helping the children with gardening activities, offering workshops for specific fields of interest (such as painting, sketching, knitting, music, etc.), or simply helping at the after-school care facility through supervision or reading.

• Young People: The after-school facility will accommodate young people ranging from pre-school to high school and provide a safe after-school environment. The young people will not stay on the premises full time and will only be there during working hours (from 7 am to 8 pm). The after-school care facility will give the young people the space and tools to achieve their academic goals and provide online connectivity to aid in the offline-online hybrid academic model in the wake of the CODID-19 pandemic.

05: PROJECT BRIEF, PROGRAMME, AND ACCOMMODATION

In turn, the younger generations can help the elderly navigate the current technological landscape by helping them video-call their loved ones, explaining technology functions, and troubleshoot technical issues on electronic devices.

FIGURE 5.2: Intergenerations

• General Public: The public will interact with the retirement community through the commercial and public green spaces on the ground floor. • Retirement Community’s Staff: The staff members will undertake the maintenance, administrative duties, and general upkeep of the elderly residents and the building to ensure that the retirement community functions as intended.

The semi-assisted living quarters:

The fully-assisted living quarters:

The after-school care facility:

•

Two apartment types are available: • One-bedroom unit: Houses either one or two persons comfortably. This unity type has a wheelchairaccessible kitchenette, living room, bedroom, en-suite bathroom, and balcony. • Two-bedroom unit: Houses either two or three persons comfortably. This wheelchair-accessible unit type has a larger kitchen, space for

•

• • • •

One-bedroom unit: Houses one person comfortably. This unit type has a combined wheelchair-accessible bedroom, living room, bathroom, and balcony Communal dining hall: Available to the residents of any unit, as well as the children in the after-care facility Ablution facilities Activity hall Communal pool Dining hall kitchen

• • • • • • • • • • •

a large dining table, a larger living room, one master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a second smaller bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and a balcony. Ablution facilities for staff Ablution facilities for the general public Commercial space: • Bakery • Coffee shop • Deli

• • • • •

Laundromat Poolside changing rooms Reception Roof garden Staff offices and facilities.

• • •

•

Ablution facilities for staff Ablution facilities for the public Computer lab Greenhouse Library Outside playground Quiet study space Reception Roof garden Shared learning and activity spaces Staff facilities.

Public Space: • Green spaces/Park • Parking • Pool • Outdoor braai area • Parking

05: PROJECT BRIEF, PROGRAMME, AND ACCOMMODATION

5.3 ACCOMMODATION:

CHAPTER SIX: CONCEPT & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: 6.1

CONCEPT

6.2

STARTING PRINCIPLES FOT THE RETIREMENT STRATEGY

6.2.1 NEW URBANISM

6.2.2 INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING/LIVING

6.2.3 PUBLIC SPACE

PRECEDENT 1: THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND GARDENS AT HUDSON YARDS

PRECEDENT 2: LAS RAMBLAS

6.2.4 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

PRECEDENT 3: KENYUEN HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

PRECEDENT 4: THALGAU HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN’S NURSERY

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

6.3

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

PARTI DIAGRAM:

6.1 CONCEPT: According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (2019), people live in a very disconnected world despite technology offering more connections than ever. This disconnect impacts the ability to create meaningful social connections, which has been proven to lower anxiety and depression, regulate emotions, and increase empathy and self-esteem.

• • • • • •

Residents and public spaces Residents and the public in the surrounding neighbourhoods Inside and outside spaces Public, semi-public, and private spaces Earth through food grown on the premises Culture through knowledge exchange.

A healthy social environment for the elderly could help improve quality of life by creating social and physical connections with external sources (children, nature, each other, their context).

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Therefore, the concept for the proposed retirement community is connections. Connection is the direct relationship in which a person or object is linked with something or someone else. These connections range between the: • Younger and the older generations • Residents

6.2 STARTING PINCIPLES FOR THE RETIREMENT STRATEGY: During the design process for the intergenerational retirement community, various urban design principles and design patterns were investigated to develop the architecture.

6.2.1 NEW URBANISM

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

New urbanism is a planning and development approach fundamentally rooted in the principles of designing for the human scale in cities. This planning approach typically alludes to walkable blocks and streets, diverse housing, and commercial and accessible public space. The new urbanism movement was developed as an alternative to the low-density urban pattern of the pre-world war two-city design, favouring vehicular access over pedestrian access (Briney, 2019). American writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs is one of the founders of the New Urbanist Movement with her ideology on how a city can be seen as an ecosystem. Jacobs (1961, pp. 152-177) prefers mixed-use neighbourhoods to neighbourhoods that separate residential and commercial functions due to the diversity they provide in terms of quality of life. Although Jacobs’ ideologies and principles are interpreted on the macro-scale of urban design, could there be benefits to applying these urban design principles on architecture’s micro-scale?

In my observations of the elderly in South Africa, they typically have four options for retirement. They can either move to a retirement village or a traditional retirement home, move in with a relative who will take them in, or remain independent. The problem that could arise from the first two options is that both a retirement village and retirement homes are designed primarily in isolated clusters consisting of only the elderly demographic. The typical typology of these facilities could contribute to the loneliness and social isolation being experienced by the elderly due to the elderly being withdrawn from society to live in monotonous units with little to no age diversity. The elderly tend to gather naturally in communities due to society treating them as outsiders (Alexander, et al., 1977, p. 216). The elderly then seek these clustered communities for mutual support and to enjoy themselves. However, these communities can cause more harm than good due to the rifts they can create between the elderly and the rest of society.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.1: An Illustrated Guide to Jane Jacobs. (Hancock, 2016).

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 51

FIGURE 6.2: Connections with All Walks of Life.

In her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), Jacobs describes four main urban design principles in her ideas on macro-scale urban design that could be applied to the micro-scale typologies of retirement communities of the future. These urban design principles could be the first step in creating a strategy that can help enhance these clusters of elderly people found in cities and enable the elderly to reintegrate back into society physically and socially.

This mini-dissertation will focus on the two main principles that focus on designing for increased diversity and density (points 1 and 4). Jacobs (1961) states that density is meaningless if used purely as a design tool to reduce commute times and limit urban expansion on undeveloped land. Density should instead be used for its primary advantage: to create spaces that are diversely concentrated with people from various walks of life with different tastes, preferences in activities, professions and abilities (Moroni, 2016). Diversity and density enable individuals to live and work in close proximity and constant contact with each other, enabling people to learn from others’ successes and failures. According to Jacobs (1961), this contact enables a constant dynamic laboratory of human experiences and, in turn, lifelong learning. Connecting the elderly with people from various walks of life is the first significant connection in the strategy to reintegrate the elderly back into society. Jacobs (1961) refers to the importance of the visibility of other people: “…that the sight of people attracts still other people, is something that city planners and city architectural designers seem to find incomprehensible. They operate on the premise that city people seek the sight of emptiness, obvious order and quiet. Nothing could be less true. The presences of great numbers of people gathered together in cities should not only be frankly accepted as a physical fact – they should also be enjoyed as an asset and their presence celebrated.” – Jane Jacobs (1961, p. 37)

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Jacobs’ (1961) four main principles described in her book are the following: 1. Neighbourhoods should include a mixture of different building uses and functions. 2. Blocks should be short and walkable. 3. Neighbourhoods should contain a mixture of older and newer buildings. 4. A sufficiently dense population creates safety.

When designing a retirement community and applying these urban design principles, one would consider the site (see Figure 6.3) to be an enclosed city block. Incorporating various uses and functions throughout the retirement community raises the possibility for various age demographics to interact with various activities and facilities throughout the entire building, thus creating a density that allows social interaction and connections throughout the programme.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

One example of how this connection could happen is having children incorporated into the retirement community’s programme. Having the elderly and children interact daily raises the possibility for intergenerational learning to take place.

FIGURE 6.3: Site Sketch Isometric (Not To Scale).

6.2.2 INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING/LIVING: Since the dawn of time, intergenerational learning has been used as a teaching tool. This tool aids in transferring knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and norms between generations. The elders/ grandparents are valued for their role of passing down their wisdom, which keeps the new generations grounded in their history and culture by providing them with a link to the past (Newman, et al., 2008).

FIGURE 6.4: Eyes On The Streets.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

By incorporating the children, one also indirectly incorporates the parents of the children into the retirement community, which adds another layer of connection. This additional layer of connection adds more density and diversity found in and throughout the retirement community. As stated in A Pattern Language (Alexander, et al., 1977, pp. 216-217), encouraging interaction between the elderly and younger people can close the segregation rift between the two demographics, and the elderly and young people can be connected to and through their various cultures and pasts. This connection will ensure that cultures and histories are no longer lost.

6.2.3 PUBLIC SPACE: By having a high density in and throughout the retirement community, there is also an increase in safety. In The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), Jane Jacobs refers to a concept which she calls the eyes-on-the-street approach. Jacobs (1961) states that this concept of eyes on the street (which she refers to as activity taking place in city streets) keeps a constant flow of movement and security. This means that where there is a constant stream of people, there is safety. This constant flow of people who regularly act out their daily routine then creates a congenial atmosphere, which in turn increases the social character of the space and makes it more convenient for people to get to know each other. The next connection in the strategy is to connect the elderly to publicly accessible spaces.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

According to Jagannath (2016), people who live in cities use public spaces such as streets and plazas daily due to the feeling of social inclusion and interaction the public spaces provide. Therefore, if one includes more public spaces throughout and around the retirement community (which is typically seen as a private typology), one could incorporate Jacobs’ eyes-on-the-street concept to increase the

safety in and around the retirement community, as well as allow social interaction and connections to happen throughout the programme. This social interaction could then lead to a more socially connected retirement community that could aid in forming a community and a sense of place, which could help lower the number of lonely and socially isolated elderly and members of the public. In ‘15 principles for designing great civic places’ (2018), artist and urban designer Peter Ciemitis says well-designed public spaces must have distinct attributes for the space to be considered successful. Ciemitis (2018) also came up with the 15 design principles he uses as tools to help organise his thoughts when conceiving, repairing, designing or activating public spaces:

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.5: Connections to Publicly Accessible Space.

The 15 principles stated by Peter Ciemitis (2018) are as follows: 1)

Put the square at a pedestrian crosswalk: •

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

•

Public space should encourage social connections by providing gathering places where people can pause for a break and catch up with a friend or family member.

Public space should aim to provide as much weather covering (trees, roofs, awnings, etc.) as much as possible, enabling the space to be used no matter the weather conditions. Visual enclosure:

•

Enclosure helps affirm the activities taking place within the space and helps establish safety and hierarchy. Reflect a sense of place and culture:

•

An active night-and daytime presence ensures a constant stream of people within the space, which coincides with Jane Jacob’s eyes-on-the-street concept, increasing safety. Include places for pausing:

•

Co-locating public space to points of interest amplifies the activities within the space and improves the vibrancy and movement within the space. Establish a daytime and nighttime presence:

Provide weather shelter: •

Maximising the entry points into public space encourages intersections of the multiple pedestrian routes, encouraging social interaction. Co-locate the square with a significant attraction:

•

The intersection of multiple pedestrian routes generates more opportunities for social interaction and engagement with the public space and encourages movement in the public space. Maximise the number of entry points:

•

By creating a sense of place within the space, the public will actively want to engage with the space due to the space’s authenticity and meaning. Create legibility by using landmarks and references:

•

10)

Public spaces that contain unique and recognisable points of interest help anchor them in the public’s consciousness and the context of the public space, in turn helping movement and ‘way-finding’. Design to the human scale:

•

The height of the building should relate to the people who are using the public space. This ensures that the space is not alienating the public and making the space unpleasant.

11)

Design to enable eye contact: •

12)

Ensuring eye contact within a public place (and avoiding unnecessary level differences) also coincides with Jane Jacob’s eyes-on-the-street concept. This allows the public to maintain a line of sight across the space, allowing them to recognise social connections and navigate the space. Encourage active edges and robustness:

•

Create serial imagery: •

14)

People should cultivate experiences through the storytelling of the public space and be able to act out their lives with the spaces as their life’s backdrop. Paving for people:

•

15)

A unique pavement design can contribute towards the sense of place, serial imagery, and legibility while subtly guiding the public through the space. Design for all:

•

Public space should be designed not to exclude any age demographic, ensuring that connections and social interaction can occur, no matter the user’s age.

FIGURE 6.6: Public Space.

Ciemitis (2018) states that these 15 principles should not be treated as tick-boxes and should be used with the context in mind due to the wide variety of public spaces to which these principles could be applied. By treating the retirement community as a new public square, these principles could be applied to the strategy to increase the retirement community’s diversity and density, in turn adding another layer of connection.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

13)

The social interaction within public space is determined by the activity around the space’s edges, enabling positive lingering in and around the space.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

INITIAL MASSING:

FIGURE 6.7: Initial Massing.

By starting with a massing that surrounds the perimeter of the site (see Figure 6.7), the basis is formed for the public square. By then examining the entry points of the site, the mass allows various masses to form stereotomically from the main mass that could be used for various functions. This will allow the retirement community to have secondary functions such as restaurants, laundromats, and small grocery stores to benefit the elderly living in the retirement community and the public living near the retirement community. These buildings that surround the public square will then create a visual enclosure around the public square, allowing the eyes-on-the-street concept to be applied to increase the safety of the elderly, children, and the public.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

For the next step in the design development, precedents were investigated, and the applicable principles were extracted to incorporate into the retirement community..

PRECEDENT 1: THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND GARDENS AT HUDSON YARDS

06: 06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

Location: New York, United States of America Architects: Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects Year Completed: 2019

61 61

FIGURE 6.8 (Doherty, 2019).

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects designed the public square at Hudson Yards to bring a vibrant new heart to the most extensive development in Manhattan’s west side. The square consists of a series of elliptical forms that create multiple overlapping layers of pedestrian routes, green spaces, crushed-stone surfaces and overhead canopies that help mediate the height of the adjacent skyscrapers. This sense of green enclosure creates an intimate gathering space for the busy lifestyle of Manhattan. According to Pintos (2019), the gardens create an immersive environment for visitors by carefully considering lighting conditions and nature surrounding the public with native species to create an authentic expression of the place.

FIGURE 6.10 (Doherty, 2019).

FIGURE 6.11 (Doherty, 2019).

FIGURE 6.12 (Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, 2014).

FIGURE 6.9 (Doherty, 2019).

• •

A visual enclosure around the square establishes hierarchy. Using trees as canopies, the public is protected from weather conditions and given the opportunity to be connected with nature in a sprawling city, satisfying their need to be close to an accessible green space as stated in ‘accessible green’ (Pattern 60) (Alexander, et al., 1977, pp. 304-309). Public square level does not drastically change, aligning with Ciemitis’ principle about keeping the pedestrians’ line of sight across the square. Barriers along the pedestrian routes adhere to Alexander’s (1977, pp. 815-817) concept of a ‘sitting wall’ (Pattern 243) (Alexander, et al., 1977). The barriers are high enough to indicate clear boundaries between the various spaces without blocking the public’s connection. This allows the pedestrian pathways to double as minor boundaries and outdoor seating/gathering spaces.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Principles:

PRECEDENT 2: LAS RAMBLAS

06: 06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

Location: Barcelona, Spain

63 63

Las Ramblas is a pedestrian plaza surrounded by shops and lined with trees in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarters. The plaza starts at Barcelona’s main plaza, Plaza Catalunya, and spans 1.2km to the Christopher Columbus Monument in Port Vell. Las Ramblas is a meeting place for the residents and tourists of Barcelona due to its central location and 10m – 25m wide central pedestrian route. The main route reverses the ratio of humans and automobiles, resulting in a reverse of the typical relationship between pedestrians and vehicles. The trees that frame the pedestrian routes act as barriers to guide the pedestrians and protect them from vehicles.

FIGURE 6.13. Image by Oh Barcelona on Wikimedia under Creative Commons License.

According to Campbell (2002), the promenade is constantly in motion and has vibrancy due to the plaza being full of retail stalls, food kiosks, and arts and crafts exhibits drawing people

FIGURE 6.15. (Fernández Salas, 2021)

FIGURE 6.14. Las Ramblas Street view (Google Maps, 2021).

Principles: • • • • •

The promenade is designed to the human scale, with pedestrians being prioritised over vehicles, encouraging movement and vibrancy. The wide promenade allows spill out spaces for retail and restaurants to bleed into the social space. The rows of trees act as the threshold between the inside spaces, the road and the promenade. There is ample seating and breakaway spaces that create a congenial public space that allows a wide array of social activities to happen, depending on the social gradient of the activity. The promenade is designed to be accessible and walkable.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

of various ages in from many walks of life. Ample seating and social spaces and permitted performances by local artists and musicians can also be found along the 1.2km promenade. These factors enable the promenade to be visually and culturally different every day.

06: 06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT FIGURE 6.16: Rain in Sydney Iconic Places. (Chandra, 2015).

65 65

6.2.4) CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE:

Psychological factors • This is the sense of acknowledgement and the preservation of the individual’s habits, values, autonomy, coping, and control.

Social factors • This is the social interaction between the staff, residents, family, friends and pets, and the social activities in the retirement home.

The built environment • This relates to private space, quasi-public space, personal belongings, technology, aesthetics, outdoor environments, and location.

By incorporating these three main themes into the design strategy of future retirement homes, a sense of home is created. This integration could greatly benefit the mental health of the elderly residing in retirement communities. The next step was to look at precedents that address the built environment:

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Creating a sense of home is closely related to Scanell and Gifford’s (2010) attachment theory that states that people’s personal experiences influence the emotional bond between them and places. This means that to create a sense of place, one must create an emotional bond between the person and the place. A study by Rijnaard, et al. (2016) regarding the sense of home for elderly people residing in retirement homes found that 15 factors influence the sense of home. These 15 factors are then further divided into three main themes:

FIGURE 6.17: (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.).

PRECEDENT 3: KENYUEN HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

Location: Wakayama, Japan Architect: Motoyasu Muramatsu Year Completed: 2001

06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT 06:

The Kenyuen Home for the elderly was designed on rugged rocky landscapes dominated by the presence of the ocean nearby. The building’s elegant and streamlined design language directly contrasts the wild

67 67

coastal landscape. The home is designed for people who have an affinity for connection to the ocean and nature. The programme is designed to accommodate the elderly who want to retain autonomy and independence due to the hierarchical nature of a village. The spaces within the building range in sizes and gradients of privacy to adhere to the resident’s needs for either intimacy or openness. The home is designed with gymnastic rooms, bathing rooms, and a swimming pool to allow social interaction and physical activities in the

FIGURE 6.18: (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.).

FIGURE 6.19: (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.).

central wing. The bedrooms are designed to be personalised by the residents and are located in such a way as to allow the elderly their privacy and dignity and to be awoken by the rising sun. In A Design Manual: Living for the elderly (2009, p. 154), Eckhard Feddersen and Insa Ludtke say “the architect has managed to turn an almost poetic idea into an architectural and care concept which can be understood as a eulogy to the power and beauty of nature” (2009, p. 154). FIGURE 6.21 (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.).

06: 06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.20: (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.).

68 68

Principles: •

•

• •

The full-height glazing around the building allows the sweeping vistas of the surrounding landscape and ocean to bleed into the living spaces creating a feeling of being outside while being protected from the elements. This adheres to the ‘indoor sunglight’ (Pattern 128) (Alexander, et al., 1977). The alcoves in the main hallway allow the residents to lay claim on the public space by creating a semi-public communal living area and ablutions that are shared between six rooms. This principle adheres to the concept of ‘alcoves’ (Pattern 179) (Alexander, et al., 1977) that states that a communal room should be intimate enough to give people the chance to be together as a group, even if they are doing different things. These spaces should connect to the main space but remain secluded without being closed off from the rest of the space. The rooms are designed to be personalised by the residents. Accommodating hydrotherapy in the retirement home.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.22: Plans, scanned in from A Design Manual: Living for the elderly (Feddersen & Lüdtke, 2009, p.155).

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

SECOND FLOOR

FIGURE 6.23: (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.).

PRECEDENT 4: THALGAU HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN’S NURSERY

Location: State of Salzburg, Austria Architect: Kadawittfelarchitektur GbR Year Completed: 2002

06: 06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

The Thalgau Home for the Elderly and Children’s Nursery combines a home for the elderly and a children’s nursery to enable intergenerational contact between society’s youngest and oldest members. According to

71 71

Feddersen and Lüdtke (2009, pp. 216-217) the home was designed to be reminiscent of small homes along a small town street . The heart of the building is the central courtyard between two of the masses, which is adjacent to the communal dining hall. Walkways completely wrap around the home’s perimeter to encourage active inner walking routes for young and elderly people and provide stimulating routes with bridges linking the various masses. The resident’s rooms have small seating niches in the front, leading

FIGURE 6.24: (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.).

FIGURE 6.26: (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.).

to the central courtyard that encourage social connection and help establish the transition between public and private. The big boxedframed French windows in the resident’s rooms also allow a direct connection between their rooms and the outside world, allowing the window to act as a flowerbed or a seat in the sun. There is a clear distinction in architectural language between the nursery and the home for the elderly. The nursery embodies a sense of lightness with its glass facades and floating roof, while the home uses warm colours and tone, with rhythmic patterns in the cladding and placement of windows (Feddersen & Lüdtke, 2009).

06: CONCEPT CONCEPT AND AND DESIGN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT 06:

FIGURE 6.25: (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.).

72 72

Principles: •

The overlapping connection between the young and elderly through introducing the communal dining hall.

• •

The difference in design languages between the nursery and home. The small seating niches help the resident lay claim on the public space and establish a threshold between public and private spaces. This principle adheres the ‘front door bench’ (Pattern 242) (Alexander, et al., 1977) that states that benches outside of the front door allow people to comfortably sit and watch the happenings on the street, while helping to define the semi-private space. The French windows adhere to the ‘window place’ (Pattern 180) (Alexander, et al., 1977) that states that at least one window in any habitable room should be a window just deep enough to be a seat to create a sense of comfort and relaxation.

•

FIGURE 6.27: Plan & Sections, scanned in from A Design Manual: Living for the elderly (Feddersen & Lüdtke, 2009, p.216).

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

CROSS SECTION

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

ROOM PLAN

GROUND FLOOR

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.26: Plan, scanned in from A Design Manual: Living for the elderly (Feddersen & Lüdtke, 2009, p.217).

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

6.3) DESIGN DEVELOPMENT:

FIGURE 6.28: Initial Plans.

The design of the retirement community consists of a mixed-use arrangement consisting of the most publicly accessible space being on the ground floor and the residential space being on the upper levels to differentiate a gradient of privacy throughout the building.

FIGURE 6.29: Initial Mass 1.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

INITIAL MASS 1:

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

INITIAL MASS 2:

FIGURE 6.30: Initial Massing 2.

FIGURE 6.32: Initial Massing Plan.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.31: Initial Section.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

INITIAL ITERATION:

FIGURE 6.33: Preliminary Programme.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.34: Preliminary Programme Section.

81 81

06: INTRODUCTION CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01:

GROUND FLOOR:

01 06:INTRODUCTION CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIRST FLOOR: 82 82

83 83

06: INTRODUCTION CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01:

SECOND FLOOR:

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.35: Current Perspective.

84 84

FIGURE 6.36: Courtyard.

CURRENT ITERATION:

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION

After investigating the possibility of the sunken public courtyard in the previous revisions, I was made aware that by sinking the courtyard, the building has limited accessibility (especially for the elderly), and the courtyard actively ignores the street edge by breaking the line of sight (as mentioned in Chapter 6.2.3). Therefore the decision was made to move the entire building up by one storey. This allowed the removal of one of the proposed building’s wings, which allowed the independent living units to be incorporated into the semi-assisted living wing.

85 85

A second courtyard was incorporated to maximise the sunlight into the building and allow the retirement community residents to have degrees of privacy by keeping the primary one (the publicly accessible green space) as public and the secondary as semipublic (only accessible for the residents of retirement community). During the design process, ways to apply the biophilia hypothesis throughout the retirement

CURRENT REVISION:

According to Darach Social Croft (2021), there is a significant correlation between lowered rates of anxiety, depression, and stress levels when exposed to nature, improving social and psychological well-being. One way to connect with nature and apply the biophilia hypothesis to architecture is to ensure ample green space throughout the retirement facility that adheres to the principle of ‘accessible green’ (Pattern 60) (Alexander, et al., 1977).

FIGURE 6.37: Biophilia.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

community were investigated. The biophilia hypothesis is the concept that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life and ties in with nature connectedness. Nature connectedness is the relationship between an individual and the natural world that goes beyond contact or exposure to nature when immersed in natural surroundings (Darach Social Croft, 2021).

86 86

A greenhouse was added to the roof space of the after-school facility to act as one of the intergenerational overlapping spaces in the retirement community. The greenhouse can be seen as a source of life (Alexander, et al., 1977) and is a fundamental part of a homely environment due to the experience it can provide to the user. Alexander (1977) refers to a greenhouse as a common area that allows people to reintegrate themselves with nature by growing seedlings that could be gradually transplanted to form various parts of the garden surrounding the retirement community, helping the residents and children form a connection with the community.

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION

FIGURE 6.39: Greenhouse.

87 87

FIGURE 6.38: After-school care facility entrance.

The principle of ‘roof garden’ (Pattern 118) (Alexander, et al., 1977) is incorporated,

FIGURE 6.40: Roof Gardens.

seeing that a vast majority of the earth’s surface area is roofed. These rooftop gardens act as a semi-public space for the retirement community’s residents and transition from an interior room to allow easy access.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

An active decision was made to turn the public square into an accessible green space rather than pave it to align with the green principles discussed and the biophilia hypothesis.

88 88

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.41: Units.

THE UNITS: Three units types were developed to accommodate a diverse range of tenants. Unit 1 is the fully assisted living unit, and is designed as a living space without a kitchenette. The residents of these units will make use of the facility’s amenities and services. Unit 2, is the semi-assisted living unit, and is designed as a small independent apartment for the elderly residents. The residents of these units are not excluded from the rest of the facility’s services and amenities but can live independently to a degree that they are comfortable.

The units were designed to incorporate better accessibility. An active decision was made to add a shower with a bench rather than a bathtub to the units to help ease the elderly’s fear of falling (especially individuals with endurance, balance, and strength issues) and aid the caretakers. Grab rails were added to the toilet and the shower to aid in reducing the risk of falling when a person in a wheelchair independently use the bathroom space. The units were designed according to a wheelchair’s turning circle (1500mm), allowing a person in a wheelchair to easily access any space within the unit and allowing a caretaker to move with and around the wheelchair in case of required assistance.

06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Unit 3, is the independent living unit, and is designed as a bigger 2 bedroom apartment for the elderly residents who are still taking care of children. They will not be excluded from the facility, but can independently live in the community and make use of its services and amenities.

The following principles were investigated and incorporated into the design of the units:

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION

Curtain walls and stacking folding doors were initially investigated but were scrapped for more traditional doors and window systems for the living units due to a concern that the elderly would not easily handle them alone. The windows were investigated as per the principle of ‘indoor sunlight’ (Pattern 128) (Alexander, et al., 1977) and the principle of ‘window place’ (Pattern 180) (Alexander, et al., 1977). The room’s orientation and the amount of natural light significantly impact the feeling inside a room. Therefore the

91 91

windows were used to maximise the amount of sunlight in the units, and most of the units (most important spaces) are placed along the northern side of the proposed building. The balconies’ size and position were designed to the principle of ‘six-foot balconies’ (Pattern 167) (Alexander, et al., 1977) and are often made too small in order to save money. However, too small balconies have a detrimental effect on the use of the space, FIGURE 6.42: Semi Assisted Balconies.

resulting in wasted space. Therefore the positioning of the balcony is recessed into the proposed building (As per pattern 167) (Alexander, et al., 1977) to allow more balcony space and half enclosed to allow the elderly residents partial privacy, which would make them more comfortable. An opening is placed in the communal wall between two units to allow connections, regardless of whether the elderly are in the hallway or on their balcony.

softens the concrete and brick façade of the proposed building. The awnings cast sunshade over the windows and are retractable by the elderly to help filter the bright sunlight (in the case of an afternoon nap) without completely closing the curtains. In the event of rain, the awnings enable the elderly residents a sensory experience by allowing them to hear the rain, which typically cannot be heard in a concrete frame structure, on the canvas roofs by their windows. FIGURE 6.43: Fully Assisted Balconies.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Canvas awnings were placed above the windows of all the elderly’s bedrooms as per the principle of ‘canvas roofs’ (Pattern 244) (Alexander, et al., 1977). The canvas awning

92 92

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION

The front entrance of the units were recessed to adhere to the principle of ‘alcoves’ (Pattern 179) (Alexander, et al., 1977). Creating the alcoves in the main hallway acts as a threshold space and enables the elderly to lay claim on public space. This allows the elderly to put various possessions at their front door. This principle was combined with the principle of ‘front door bench’ (Pattern 242) (Alexander, et al., 1977). Placing a bench at the front door of the unit allows the elderly to watch the hallway, which acts as the street. The bench also helps define the half-private domain in front of the unit.

93 93

Windows were added to the wall between the unit and the hallway as per the principle of ‘interior windows’ (Pattern 194) (Alexander, et al., 1977). Placing windows in the main passage adds another form of connection between the interior spaces and the resident, allowing the elderly to watch the hallway, which acts as the street. These interior windows allow additional sunlight to enter the units as well. FIGURE 6.44: Hallway alcoves and front door.

FIGURE 6.45: Hallway Benches and Interior Benches.

FIGURE 6.46: Curved Glazing in Hallways.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

In order to minimise the wasted space in the hallways, curved glazing were incorporated to allow the residents to feel connected to the outside without having to be physically outside. This inward curved invokes the feeling of the nature outside bleeding into the main spaces of the facility. This glazing also allows more natural light to enter the building as per the principle of ‘indoor sunlight’ (Pattern 128) (Alexander, et al., 1977).

94 94

Skylights were incorporated to increase the amount of natural light in the hallway of the semi-assisted living wing and the communal dining hall. The skylight in the semi-assisted living wing will allow more natural light into the units through the internal windows in the hallway. The skylight in the communal dining hall allows the residents and younger people to be fully immersed in nature and light, allowing the users of the space to feel like they are outside, without being physically outside. The skylights also adhere to the principle of ‘indoor sunlight’ (Pattern 128) (Alexander, et al., 1977)

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION

A communal dining hall was incorporated into the facility to increase the social connections

95 95

FIGURE 6.47: Semi Assisted Hallway Skylight

between the retirement community’s different generations. According to The University of Oxford (2017), research has revealed that people who eat with other people are more likely to feel happier and satisfied with their lives. This social bonding enhances the people’s sense of contentedness and helps to embed them into the community. Alexander, et al. (1977) also states that without ‘communal eating’ (Pattern 147) (Alexander, et al., 1977), groups of people can not maintain a community.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.48: Communal Dining Hall 96 96

97 97

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION FIGURE 6.49: Indoor Slide.

The after school care facility’s play areas are spread out across the facility. An indoor slide was incorporated to allow a playful environment inside the facility for the children and evoke the feeling of childlike wonder in the adults. An enclosed outside playground was also incorporated to allow the children a safe environment to play without adult supervision. Trees and planters were mainly used (instead of traditional fencing) to reduce the feeling of being in a cage. The trees around the

FIGURE 6.50: Enclosed Outside Playground.

An interactive water feature was incorporated into the main public area to allow the sound of water to be heard by the residents and allow the children to play in the water. The sound of the water also has been proven to reduce stress.

FIGURE 6.51: Interactive Water Feature.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

playground perimeter also allow shade for the children during the day.

98 98

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION 99 99

FIGURE 6.52: After School Care Facility Interior 1.

The after school care facility was designed with collaboration in mind. Therefore walls were avoided where possible, and bookshelves were used as partitions.

the perimeter of the window walls to allow for stimulating views while working. Instead of placing the computers for the after school care facility in one designated area, they were placed throughout to encourage small pockets of collaboration and keep a vibrant congenial environment.

FIGURE 6.53: After School Care Facility Interior 2.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

A mixture of different seating options was incorporated to allow the users of the space flexibility regarding how they want to collaborate in the space. These seating arrangements range from small tables with two seats, couch layouts and big conference tables. Wrap around tables was placed on

100 100

A pool was added to the programme to allow hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy has been used as a resource to treat rheumatic, orthopaedic, and neurological diseases such as arthritis, circulatory issues, and joint pains (Carver, 2018). A study done by Fuller (2000) showed that 30% of elderly people who do not live in a retirement facility suffer falls that cause fractures (especially in their hips). The study concluded that physical activity in old age has many benefits, such as increased muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, resulting in less bone and muscle loss. This means that physical activity in old age can reduce the risk of falls and reduce bone fractures by up to 60%, resulting in an improved quality of life for the elderly living in retirement communities (Alikhajeh, et al., 2012). According to Alikhajeh, et al. (2012) , water therapy is considered the best environment for keeping the elderly active. Water is a safe environment and so eliminates the fear of falling and being injured. Water also facilitates a reduction in joint overload, allowing individuals to perform exercises and movements that cannot be done on the ground.

06: AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 01: CONCEPT INTRODUCTION

Providing the retirement community with a swimming pool allows the elderly residents to participate in water activities and water therapy. Allowing the after-school facility to interact with the elderly at the pool adds another layer of connection between the elderly and the young people. The pool also opens up the opportunity for the two generations to engage through communal activities that can happen in and around the pool

101 101

FIGURE 6.54: Communal Pool 1.

01 INTRODUCTION 06: CONCEPT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FIGURE 6.55: Communal Pool 2. 102 102

CHAPTER SEVEN: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION: 7.1

SFN209M SPECIFICATIONS V

7.2

CDO209M CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION V

102

7.1

SPECIFICATIONS V:

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

The following sub-chapter shows the development (as submitted for the subject, SFN209M SPECIFICATIONS V) of the after school facility’s Greenhouse and the façade:

105

FIGURE 7.1: Initial Greenhouse Concept Model.

FIGURE 7.2: Initial Greenhouse Concept Sketches

FIGURE 7.5: Facade Model 2 Conceptual Elevation.

FIGURE 7.4: Facade Model 2.

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

FIGURE 7.3: Facade Model 1.

106

FIGURE 7.6: Facade Model 3.1.

FIGURE 7.7: Facade Model 3.2.

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

FIGURE 6.10: Conceptual Section 1.

107

FIGURE 7.8: Facade Model 4.1.

FIGURE 7.9: Facade Model 4.2.

FIGURE 7.12: Conceptual Elevation 1.

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

FIGURE 7.11: Conceptual Perspective 1.

108

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

FIGURE 7.13: Adapted Facade Model 1.

109

FIGURE 7.14: Adapted Facade Model 1 Sketch.

FIGURE 7.16: Preliminary Perspective 2.

FIGURE 7.15: Preliminary Perspective.

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

FIGURE 7.17: Preliminary Perspective 3.

110

7.2

CONTRACT DOCCUMENTATION V:

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

The following sub-chapter shows the development (as submitted for the subject, CDO209M CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION V) of the after school facility’s portion of the proposed design.

111

FIGURE 7.18: Author’s Contract Documentation V & Specifications V Final Examination on 30 September 2021.

112

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

113

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

114

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

115

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

116

07: TECHNICAL RESOLUTION

117 117

07: 07: TECHNICAL TECHNICAL RESOLUTION RESOLUTION

FIGURE 7.19: SPECIFICATIONS V MODEL 1

07: TECHNICAL TECHNICAL RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 07:

FIGURE 7.20: SPECIFICATIONS V MODEL 2

118 118

CHAPTER EIGHT: DESIGN RESOLUTION: 8.1

RESOLVED DESIGN

121

8.2

CONCLUSION

142

8.1

RESOLVED DESIGN:

The following sub-chapter shows the final design

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION

presentation as exibitioned on 18 Jan 2022.

121 121

FIGURE 8.1: Final Ground Floor Plan

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.2: Final First Floor Plan

122 122

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 123 123

FIGURE 8.3: Final Second Floor Plan

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.4: Final North-East Perspective

124 124

125 125

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION

FIGURE 8.5: Final Sections

126 126

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

127 127

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION

FIGURE 8.6: Final East Elevation

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.7: Final Restaurant Exterior.

128 128

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 129 129

FIGURE 8.8: Final Greenhouse Facade

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.9: Final Private Courtyard.

130 130

131 131

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION

FIGURE 8.10: Final Roof Gardens

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.11: Final South-East Shopfront Perspective

132 132

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 133 133

FIGURE 8.12: Final Fully Assisted Northern Elevation

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.13: Final South-West Perspective

134 134

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 135 135

FIGURE 8.14: Final Presentation Model 1.1

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.15 Final Presentation Model 1.2

136 136

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 137 137

FIGURE 8.16: Final Presentation Model 1.3

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.17: Final Presentation Model 1.4

138 138

08: 08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 139 139

FIGURE 8.18: Final Exibition on 18 Jan 2022

FIGURE 8.20: Panorama of Author’s Final Examination on 18 Jan 2022

08: DESIGN DESIGN RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 08:

FIGURE 8.19: Author At His Final Exibition on 18 Jan 2022

140 140

141

08: DESIGN RESOLUTION

8.2

CONCLUSION:

During this mini-dissertation, I realised the great value that the elderly have in terms of stories, history, skills, culture, and knowledge. Society should embrace the elderly during their retirement rather than exclude them from society. This mini-dissertation displays a conceptual development of an idealistic design strategy that could be used in various contexts throughout the world. By using Jane Jacobs’ urban design principles, Pieter Ciemitis’ public space principles, and Alexander, et al.’s pattern language, architects have the power to create a design strategy that could reshape the current retirement landscape in South Africa. By integrating the public into facilities typically seen as medical institutions, architects can close the segregated rift between the younger and older generations and create community and connections where the elderly reside. I hope that by creating meaningful connections between the elderly and the surrounding context, this proposed design strategy could aid in the ongoing battle against poor mental health and abandonment currently experienced by the elderly population in South Africa and globally.

08: DESIGN RESOLUTION

Although this mini-dissertation could possibly be expanded given more time, I hope to contribute to the cause and one day help reshape the retirement landscape for future generations.

142

REFERENCES: LIST OF FIGURES

145

REFERENCE LIST

150

10.1 LIST OF FIGURES: CHAPTER ONE: FIGURE 1.1: FIGURE 1.2: FIGURE 1.3:

My Grandmother and Sister on 35mm Film. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................... 1 My Grandfather and Mother on 35mm Film. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................... 2 The Silver Tsunami. (Author, 2021).......................................................................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER TWO: FIGURE 2.1: FIGURE 2.2: FIGURE 2.3: FIGURE 2.4: FIGURE 2.5:

Despairing Senior Man. (Bialasiewicz, 2015)........................................................................................................................... 9-10 • Bialasiewicz, K., 2015. Despairing Senior Man. [image] Available at: <https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/despairing-seniorman-picture-id485879360?s=612x612> [Accessed 13 September 2021] Sad Mature Indian Woman. (Nigam, n.d.).................................................................................................................................11-12 • Nigam, R., n.d. Sad Mature Indian Woman. [image] Available at: <https://mediaindia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ IMG_1246-1-scaled.jpg> [Accessed 12 September 2021]. My Grandmother’s Room. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................. 13-14 My Grandfather’s Room. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................... 14-15 The Neighbourhood The Elderly Knows The Best. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................... 18

CHAPTER THREE: FIGURE 3.1: FIGURE 3.2: FIGURE 3.3: FIGURE 3.4: FIGURE 3.5: FIGURE 3.6: FIGURE 3.7: FIGURE 3.8: FIGURE 3.9:

Context Maps. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................. 21-22 Pretoria Map. (Adapted From Google Maps, Author, 2021)..................................................................................................... 22 Neighbourhood Scale. (Adapted From Google Maps, Author, 2021)....................................................................................... 23 Block Scale. (Aadapted From Google Maps, Author, 2021)..................................................................................................... 24 Site South-West View. (Author, 2021)...................................................................................................................................... 25-26 Site Eastern View. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................. 27-28 Site Perspective. (Adapted From Google Maps, Author, 2021)................................................................................................ 29 My Grandfather and I at the Oncology Centre. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................. 30 Mayville Bus Route. (Adapted From Google Maps, Author, 2021)........................................................................................... 31

CHAPTER FOUR:

REFERENCES

FIGURE 4.1: FIGURE 4.2:

145

City Block. (Author, 2021)......................................................................................................................................................... 36 Connection. (Author, 2021)....................................................................................................................................................... 37

CHAPTER FIVE: FIGURE 5.1:

Programme. (Author, 2021)...................................................................................................................................................... 41

FIGURE 5.2:

Intergenerations. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................... 43

FIGURE 6.1:

FIGURE 6.2: FIGURE 6.3 FIGURE 6.4: FIGURE 6.5: FIGURE 6.6: FIGURE 6.7: FIGURE 6.8:

FIGURE 6.9:

FIGURE 6.10:

FIGURE 6.11:

FIGURE 6.12:

FIGURE 6.13: FIGURE 6.14: FIGURE 6.15:

An Illustrated Guide to Jane Jacobs. (Hancock, 2016).............................................................................................................50 • Hancock, J., 2016. An Illustrated Guide to Jane Jacobs. [image] Available at: <https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/ thumbor/8ah3DL0Oft4JE4F2vEd2I8OeKQ8=/0x0:3000x2166/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2166):format(webp):no_ upscale()/ cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6433301/jgh_janejacobs_FINAL_flat.0.jpg> [Accessed 12 October 2021]. Connections with All Walks of Life. (Author, 2021)....................................................................................................................51 Site Sketch Isometric (Not To Scale). (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................53 Eyes On The Street. (Author, 2021)..........................................................................................................................................54 Connections to Publicly Accessible Space. (Author, 2021).......................................................................................................56 Public Space. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................... 58 Initial Massing. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................. 59 Hudson Yards. (Doherty, 2019).................................................................................................................................................61 • Doherty, B. (2019). Hudson Yards. [Photo] Available at: https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5df1/94e2/3312/ fd36/3600/00e3/slideshow/HudsonYards_NBWLA_%C2%A9BarrettDoherty_663A7505-Edit_20190609.jpg?1576113359 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021]. Paving Layout. (Doherty, 2019).................................................................................................................................................62 • Doherty, B. (2019). Paving Layout. [Photo] Available at: https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5df1/9128/3312/ fdaa/6a00/006b/slideshow/HudsonYards_NBWLA_%C2%A9BarrettDoherty_663A0130-Edit_20190809.jpg?1576112405 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021]. Pedestrians at Hudson Yards. (Doherty, 2019).........................................................................................................................62 • Doherty, B. (2019). Pedestrians at Hudson Yards. [Photo] Available at: https://images.adsttc.com/media/ images/5df1/9396/3312/fd36/3600/00db/slideshow/HudsonYards_NBWLA_%C2%A9BarrettDoherty_663A1752Edit_20190812.jpg?1576113028 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021]. Public Seating. (Doherty, 2019)................................................................................................................................................ 62 • Doherty, B. (2019). Public Seating. [Photo] Available at: https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5df1/9297/3312/ fd36/3600/00d6/slideshow/HudsonYards_NBWLA_%C2%A9BarrettDoherty_663A0849-Edit_20190812.jpg?1576112772 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021]. Platform Landscape. (Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, 2014)................................................................................... 62 • Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (2014). Platform Landscape. [Section] Available at: https://images.adsttc.com/media/ images/5df1/90b7/3312/fd36/3600/00cc/slideshow/2014-11-03_SMR_PRES_PLANTING_Page_04_-_Copy.jpg?1576112292 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021]. Las Ramblas Aerial. (Wikimedia, 2012).................................................................................................................................... 63 • Wikimedia (2012). Las Ramblas Aerial. [Photo] Wikimedia. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_ Rambla_2009-06-10.jpg [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021]. Las Ramblas Street view. (Google Maps, 2021)...................................................................................................................... 64 Las Ramblas Streetscape. (Fernández Salas, 2021)............................................................................................................... 64 • Fernández Salas, J. (2021). La Ramblas Streetscape. [Photo] Available at: https://images.unsplash.com/photo1614635739240-5cdb1f76fa9d?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit= crop&w=1740&q=80 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021].

REFERENCES

CHAPTER SIX:

146

REFERENCES 147

FIGURE 6.16: Rain in Sydney Iconic Places. (Chandra, 2015)....................................................................................................................... 65 • Chandra, S., 2015. Rain in Sydney Iconic Places. [image] Available at: <https://monoawards.com/upload/ images/14487276476c2c-chandra_susiana_2.jpg> [Accessed 4 October 2021]. FIGURE 6.17: View From Cliff. (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.)............................................................................................................................... 67 • Nacasa & Partners (n.d.). View From Cliff. [Photo] Archello.com. Available at: https://archello.com/story/18619/attachments/ photos-videos/3 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.18: Elevation. (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.)........................................................................................................................................ 68 • Nacasa & Partners (n.d.). Elevation. [Photo] Archello.com. Available at: https://archello.com/story/18619/attachments/photosvideos/5 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.19: Panorama View. (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.).............................................................................................................................. 68 • Nacasa & Partners (n.d.). Panorama View. [Photo] Archello.com. Available at: https://archello.com/story/18619/attachments/ photos-videos/1 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.20: Night Elevation. (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.)............................................................................................................................... 68 • Nacasa & Partners (n.d.). Night Elevation. [Photo] Archello.com. Available at: https://archello.com/story/18619/attachments/ photos-videos/6 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.21: Hallway. (Nacasa & Partners, n.d.)........................................................................................................................................... 68 • Nacasa & Partners (n.d.). Hallway. [Photo] Archello.com. Available at: https://archello.com/story/18619/attachments/photosvideos/10 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.22: Plans, scanned in from A Design Manual: Living for the elderly. (Feddersen & Lüdtke, 2009, p.155)..................................... 69 FIGURE 6.23: Entrance. (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.)...................................................................................................................................... 71 • Kadawittfelarchitektu (n.d.). Entrance. [Photo] Architizer.com. Available at: https://architizer-prod.imgix.net/mediadata/ projects/172011/4aa09757.jpg [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.24: Nursery. (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.)........................................................................................................................................ 72 • Kadawittfelarchitektu (n.d.). Nursery. [Photo] Architizer.com. Available at: https://architizer-prod.imgix.net/mediadata/ projects/172011/fa07c6c3.jpg [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.25: Thalgau Elevation. (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.)....................................................................................................................... 72 • Kadawittfelarchitektu (n.d.). Thalgau Elevation. [Photo] Architizer.com. Available at: https://architizer-prod.imgix.net/mediadata/ projects/172011/d3979c4e.jpg [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.26: Courtyard. (Kadawittfelarchitektu, n.d.).................................................................................................................................... 72 • Kadawittfelarchitektu (n.d.). Courtyard. [Photo] Architizer.com. Available at: https://architizer-prod.imgix.net/mediadata/ projects/172011/8cd6671c.jpg [Accessed 9 Nov. 2021]. FIGURE 6.27: Plan & Sections, scanned in from A Design Manual: Living for the elderly (Feddersen & Lüdtke, 2009, p.216)...................... 73-74 FIGURE 6.28: Inital Plans. (Author, 2021)....................................................................................................................................................... 75 FIGURE 6.29: Initial Mass 1. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................... 76 FIGURE 6.30: Initial Mass 2. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................... 77 FIGURE 6.31: Initial Section. (Author, 2021)....................................................................................................................................................78 FIGURE 6.32: Initial Massing Plan. (Author, 2021).......................................................................................................................................... 78 FIGURE 6.33: Preliminary Programme. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................... 79 FIGURE 6.34: Preliminary Programme Section. (Author, 2021)...................................................................................................................... 80 FIGURE 6.35: Current Perspective. (Author, 2021)......................................................................................................................................... 84

FIGURE 6.36: FIGURE 6.37: FIGURE 6.38: FIGURE 6.39: FIGURE 6.40: FIGURE 6.41: FIGURE 6.42: FIGURE 6.43: FIGURE 6.44: FIGURE 6.45: FIGURE 6.46: FIGURE 6.47: FIGURE 6.48: FIGURE 6.49: FIGURE 6.50: FIGURE 6.51: FIGURE 6.52: FIGURE 6.53: FIGURE 6.54: FIGURE 6.55:

Courtyard. (Author, 2021)......................................................................................................................................................... 85 Biophilia. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................................................... 86 After-school care facility entrance. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................... 87 Greenhouse. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................................................................... 87-88 Roof Gardens. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................. 88 Units. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................................................. 89-90 Semi Assisted Balconies. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................. 91 Fully Assisted Balconies. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................. 92 Hallway alcoves and front door. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................ 93 Hallway Benches and interior windows. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................... 94 Curved Glazing in hallways. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................. 94 Semi Assisted Hallway Skylight. (Author, 2021)....................................................................................................................... 95 Communal Dining Hall. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................................................... 96 Indoor Slide. (Author, 2021)...................................................................................................................................................... 97 Enclosed Outside Playground. (Author, 2021)..........................................................................................................................98 Interactive Water Feature. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................ 98 After School Care Facility Interior 1. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................. 99 After School Care Facility Interior 2. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................ 100 Communal Pool 1. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 101 Communal Pool 2. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 102

FIGURE 7.1: FIGURE 7.2: FIGURE 7.3: FIGURE 7.4: FIGURE 7.5: FIGURE 7.6: FIGURE 7.7: FIGURE 7.8: FIGURE 7.9: FIGURE 7.10: FIGURE 7.11: FIGURE 7.12: FIGURE 7.13: FIGURE 7.14: FIGURE 7.15: FIGURE 7.16: FIGURE 7.17:

Initial Greenhouse Concept Model. (Author, 2021)...................................................................................................................103 Initial Greenhouse Concept Sketches. (Author, 2021)..............................................................................................................103 Facade Model 1. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................... 104 Facade Model 2. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................... 104 Facade Model 2 Conceptual Elevation. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................ 104 Facade Model 3.1. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 105 Facade Model 3.2. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 105 Facade Model 4.1. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 105 Facade Model 4.2. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 105 Conceptual Section 1. (Author, 2021)....................................................................................................................................... 105 Conceptual Perspective 1. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................ 106 Conceptual Elevation 1. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................... 106 Adapted Facade Model 1. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................. 107 Adapted Facade Model 1 Sketch. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................................... 107 Preliminary Perspective. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................... 108 Preliminary Perspective 2. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................ 108 Preliminary Perspective 3. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................ 108

REFERENCES

CHAPTER SEVEN:

148

FIGURE 7.18: Author’s Contract Documentation V & Specifications V Final Examination on 30 September 2021. (Author, 2021)............... 109 FIGURE 7.19: Specifications V Model. (Author, 2021).....................................................................................................................................115 FIGURE 7.20: Specifications V Model 2. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................................................116 CHAPTER EIGHT: FIGURE 8.1: FIGURE 8.2: FIGURE 8.3: FIGURE 8.4: FIGURE 8.5: FIGURE 8.6: FIGURE 8.7: FIGURE 8.8: FIGURE 8.9: FIGURE 8.10: FIGURE 8.11: FIGURE 8.12: FIGURE 8.13: FIGURE 8.14: FIGURE 8.15: FIGURE 8.16: FIGURE 8.17: FIGURE 8.18: FIGURE 8.19: FIGURE 8.12:

Final Ground Floor Plan. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................... 121 Final First Floor Plan. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................................ 122 Final Second Floor Plan. (Author, 2021)...................................................................................................................................123 Final North-East Perspective. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................... 124 Final Sections. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................................. 125-126 Final East Elevation. (Author, 2021)......................................................................................................................................... 127 Final Restaurant Exterior. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................................................. 128 Final Greenhouse Facade. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................... 129 Final Private Courtyard. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................................... 130 Final Roof Gardens. (Author, 2021).......................................................................................................................................... 131 Final South-East Shopfront Perspective. (Author, 2021).......................................................................................................... 132 Final Fully Assisted Northern Elevation. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................... 133 Final South-West Perspective. (Author, 2021).......................................................................................................................... 134 Final Presentation Model 1.1. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................... 135 Final Presentation Model 1.2. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................... 136 Final Presentation Model 1.3. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................... 137 Final Presentation Model 1.4. (Author, 2021)........................................................................................................................... 138 Final Exibition on 18 Jan 2022. (Author, 2021)......................................................................................................................... 139 Author At His Final Exibition on 18 Jan 2022. (Author, 2021)................................................................................................... 140 Panorama of Author’s Final Examination on 18 Jan 2022. (Author, 2021)............................................................................... 141

REFERENCES

APPENDICES:

149

FIGURE A.1: FIGURE A.2: FIGURE A.3: FIGURE A.4: FIGURE A.5: FIGURE A.6: FIGURE A.7: FIGURE A.8: FIGURE A.9: FIGURE A.10:

Corelli Ave Street Context. (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps).................................................................................. 155 Killick Ave Street Context. (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)................................................................................... 156 Corner of Fred Nicholson and Corelli Ave. (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps).......................................................... 157 Aerial Context/ (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps).................................................................................................... 158 Street Edge of Fred Nicholson Street. (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)............................................................... 159 Further Developed Green Space. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................................... 160 Roof Garden Plan. (Author, 2021)............................................................................................................................................ 161 Further Developed Roof Seating. (Author, 2021)..................................................................................................................... 162 New Roof Garden Playground Area. (Author, 2021).................................................................................................................163 Further Developed Roof Garden. (Author, 2021)......................................................................................................................164

10.2 REFERENCE LIST: Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S. & Silverstein, M., 1977. A Pattern Language. New York: OXFORD University PrESS. Alikhajeh, Y., Hosseini, S. R. A. & Moghaddam, A., 2012. Effects of hydrotherapy in static and dynamic balance among elderly men. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Issue 46, pp. 2220-2224. Briney, A., 2019. New Urbanism: Taking City Planning to a New Level. [Online] Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/new-urbanism-urban-planning-design-movement-1435790 [Accessed 21 June 2021]. Campbell, R., 2002. Buena Vista: The civic vision that made Barcelona’s Ramblas renowned is what Boston needs. [Online] Available at: http://archive.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/cases/barcelona/index.shtml [Accessed 14 October 2020]. Canadian Mental Health Association, 2019. The importance of human connection. [Online] Available at: https://cmha.ca/the-importance-of-human-connection/ [Accessed 27 October 2021]. Carver, B., 2018. Water activities at retirement communities can be key to wellness for seniors. [Online] Available at: https://www.bv.org/blog/water-activities-at-retirement-communities-can-be-key-to-wellness-for-seniors/ [Accessed 13 August 2020]. Castenson, J., 2018. Combating Social Isolation With Design. [Online] Available at: https://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/concept-community/combating-social-isolation-with-design_o [Accessed 21 June 2021]. Ciemitis, P., 2018. 15 principles for designing great civic places. [Online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/15-principles-designing-great-civic-places-peter-ciemitis [Accessed 26 June 2021]. Darach Social Croft, 2021. What is Nature Connectedness?. [Online] Available at: https://darachcroft.com/news/what-is-nature-connectedness [Accessed 16 August 2021]. Feddersen, E. & Lüdtke, I., 2009. A Design Manual: Living for the elderly. 1st ed. Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag AG. Foldes, S., 1990. Life in an institution: a sociological and anthropological view. In: R. A. Kane & A. L. Caplan, eds. Everyday ethics: Resolving dilemmas in nursing home life. New York: Springer, pp. 23-36. Frederick, R., 2020. This Is Getting Old [Interview] (8 December 2020).

Geber, S. Z., 2020. The New Silver Tsunami. [Online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarazeffgeber/2020/11/28/the-new-silver-tsunami/?sh=7f588546d69f [Accessed 14 August 2021].

REFERENCES

Fuller, G. F., 2000. Falls in the elderly. American Family Physician, Issue 61, pp. 2159-2174.

150

Hansen, M. C., Flores, D. V., Coverdale, J. & Burnett, J., 2016. Correlates of Depression in Self-Neglecting Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Role of Alcohol Abuse and Pain in Increasing Vulnerability. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, Issue 28, pp. 41-56. Hwang, T.-J.et al., 2020. Loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7306546/pdf/S1041610220000988a.pdf [Accessed 29 March 2021]. IOL, 2020. 12 million South Africans will be over 60 by 2050: How will we care for them?. [Online] Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/personal-finance/retirement/12-million-south-africans-will-be-over-60-by-2050how-will-we-care-for-them-48202646 [Accessed 25 March 2021]. Jacobs, J., 1961. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House. Jagannath, T., 2016. The Benefits of “Eyes on the Street”. [Online] Available at: https://medium.com/interviews-and-articles-on-art-public-spaces/eyes-on-the-street-creating-liveableplaces-6051ff3096e7 [Accessed 22 June 2021]. Lee, E. E. et al., 2019. High prevalence and adverse health effects of loneliness in community-dwelling adults across the lifespan: role of wisdom as a protective factor. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(10), pp. 1447-1462. Lexico, n.d. Granny Dumping Defnition. [Online] Available at: https://www.lexico.com/definition/granny_dumping [Accessed 21 June 2021]. Lexico, n.d. Intergenerational Definition. [Online] Available at: https://www.lexico.com/definition/intergenerational [Accessed 23 July 2020]. Lexico, n.d. Self-neglect Definition. [Online] Available at: https://www.lexico.com/definition/self-neglect [Accessed 16 August 2021]. Moroni, S., 2016. Urban density after Jane Jacobs: the crucial role of diversity and emergence. City, Territory and Architecture, 3(13), p. Online. Murray, C., 2015. Editorial: Could architecture play a role in curing loneliness?. [Online] Available at: https://www.architectural-review.com/awards/ar-emerging-architecture/editorial-could-architecture-playa-role-in-curing-loneliness [Accessed 06 June 2021].

REFERENCES

Newman, S., Hatton-Yeo, A., University of Pittsburgh & Beth Johnson Foundation, 2008. Intergenerational Learning and the Contributions of Older People. Ageing Horizons, Volume 8, pp. 31-39.

151

Peavey, E., 2020. Can Design Help Overcome Loneliness?. [Online] Available at: https://www.hksinc.com/our-news/articles/can-design-help-overcome-loneliness/ [Accessed 31 March 2021].

Pintos, P., 2019. The Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards / Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. [Online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/930101/the-public-square-and-gardens-at-hudson-yards-nelson-byrd-woltzlandscape-architects [Accessed 13 October 2021]. Rijnaard, M. D. et al., 2016. The Factors Influencing the Sense of Home in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review from the Perspective of Residents. Journal of Aging Research, Volume 2016. Sauer, A., 2020. The Silver Tsunami and Senior Living. [Online] Available at: https://www.leisurecare.com/resources/silver-tsunami-senior-living/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20 Silver%20Tsunami,Americans%20are%2065%20or%20older. [Accessed 25 March 2021]. Scanell, L. & Gifford, R., 2010. Defining place attachment: A tripartite organizing framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(1), pp. 1-10. South African History Online, n.d. Pretoria Timeline 1800-2009. [Online] Available at: https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/pretoria-timeline-1800-2009 [Accessed 14 August 2021]. Souza, E., 2021. Greenhouses as Spaces for Coexistence between Nature and People. [Online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/959164/greenhouses-as-spaces-for-coexistence-between-nature-and-people [Accessed 16 August 2021]. Statistics South Africa, 2020. Mid-year Population Estimates. [Online] Available at: http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0302/P03022020.pdf [Accessed 25 March 2021]. The University of Oxford, 2017. Social eating connects communities. [Online] Available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-03-16-social-eating-connects-communities#:~:text=The%20results%20 suggest%20that%20communal,and%20embedding%20within%20the%20community. [Accessed 27 October 2020]. Weller, C., 2017. Japanese people who can’t afford elder care are reviving a practice known as ‘granny dumping’. [Online] Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-people-reviving-granny-dumping-practice-20171?r=US&IR=T [Accessed 21 June 2021].

Yu, B. et al., 2020. Social Isolation, Loneliness, and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A 10-Year Follow-up Study. Psychosomatic Medicine: 2/3, 82(2), pp. 208-214.

REFERENCES

Whaley, J. C., 2014. Noggin. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

152

APPENDICES: APPENDIX 1: EDGES

155

APPENDIX 2: PUBLIC PLACES

159

APPENDIX 3: ROOF AS 5TH ELEVATION

161

Appendix 1: Edges Due to the lack of existing sidewalks on the site edge, and the small sidewalks of the surrounding context (See Figure 3.6, Chapter 3), wider sidewalks were added to the site’s perimeter to adhere to Jane Jacob’s principles. By widening the sidewalk, it will allow more people to use them, adding movement and more eyes on the street.

APPENDICES REFERENCES

(Figure 8.6 (Chapter 8) shows how the street edge on Corelli Ave was treated)

155 155

CORELLI AVE

FIGURE A.1: Corelli Ave Street Context (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)

KILLICK AVE

FIGURE A.2: Killick Ave Street Context (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)

REFERENCES APPENDICES

By photoshopping the edges of the building onto the street edges, the surrounding context can be seen in relation to the newly proposed building.

156 156

Benches and planter boxes were placed along the site’s newly proposed sidewalk to act as a threshold and allow a clear distinction between the site and the street edges. The planter boxes, trees, awnings and balconies of the proposed retirement community helps to bring down the scale of the building to the human scale on the sidewalks.

APPENDICES REFERENCES

The new peoposed sidewalk is also illustrated in this image:

157 157

CORNER OF FRED NICHOLSON AND CORELLI AVE FIGURE A.3: Corner of Fred Nicholson and Corelli Ave (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)

FIGURE A.4: Aerial Context (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)

REFERENCES APPENDICES

AERIAL CONTEXT

158 158

Appendix 2: Public Places

APPENDICES REFERENCES

The connection between the public green space and Fred Nicholson street was further developed. Planter boxes that double as seating and trees are again used to create a threshold space between the street/sidewalk and the public green space.

159 159

FRED NICHOLSON STREET

FIGURE A.5: Street Edge of Fred Nicholson Street (Author, 2021. Adapted from Google Maps)

The walkways were also developed to connect to the street edge (Fred Nicholson Street). FIGURE A.6: Further Developed Green Space

REFERENCES APPENDICES

Another layer of planning was developed to incorporate more walking routes as well as benches placed throughout the pathways. Benches were also placed around certain trees to allow more intimate seating spaces that are away from the walkways.

160 160

Appendix 3: Roof as a 5th elevation

APPENDICES

The roof was further developed to incorporate the design phylosophy of the rest of the proposed retirement community.

161

ROOF GARDEN PLAN FIGURE A.7: Roof Garden Plan

FIGURE A.8: Further Developed Roof Seating

Planter boxes were added to the perimeter of the roof garden to act as the balustrade, as well as to give the sensation of being surrounded by nature when experiencing the space A playground was added to the top of the proposed facility’s fully assisted living unit block. By adding the playground, the children get incorporated into yet another part of the building and allow the elderly residents to watch them, ultimately increasing their safety. Various forms of seating were added to the roof garden to allow the residents and children multiple places to socialise or pause and reflect. This seating ranges from tables and chairs, wooden benches and seating walls surrounding the planter boxes.

FIGURE 9.x: New Roof Garden Perspective

APPENDICES

A braai area was added to the roof (the same as the braai area on the ground floor), to allow for another multifunctional social space.

162

APPENDICES 163

ROOFTOP PLAYGROUND FIGURE A.9: New Roof Garden Playground Area

FIGURE A.10: Further Developed Roof Garden

FIGURE 9.x: New Roof Garden Seating

APPENDICES

NEW PROPOSED ROOF GARDEN

164

165

01: INTRODUCTION

01: INTRODUCTION SITE & CONTEXT

166 166

SPECIAL THANKS: “Let me share my screen and just show you, it’s gonna be easier to explain” - The quote of our two post-graduate years. A very special thanks to the CRYING IS COOL virtual studio. Without your constant motivation and support, I would not have completed my post-graduate studies in a good(ish) mental state. Even though we worked in separate locations, seeing your faces and hearing your voices every day made social isolation a lot less lonely. I will forever be grateful of your virtual company. Thank you for all the late-night shenanigans, the 3PM games of “Golf with Friends” and “Tower Unite” and all the input and advice you gave (also forcing me to crit). I’m really going to miss being able to video call anyone of you at any time and always having company. Good luck with your careers, and may our architecture paths cross again in the future.

This spread shows what it’s like (and how your desktop looks) when doing your post-graduate architecture studies in a global pandemic:

CLASS OF 2021_ECKARD, AC

Articles inside

APPENDIX 2: PUBLIC PLACES

APPENDIX 1: EDGES

APPENDIX 3: ROOF AS 5TH ELEVATION

8.2 CONCLUSION

PRECEDENT 3: KENYUEN HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

6.2.3 PUBLIC SPACE

6.3 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

6.1 CONCEPT

PRECEDENT 4: THALGAU HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN’S NURSERY

6.2.2 INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING/LIVING

PRECEDENT 2: LAS RAMBLAS

6.2.4 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE