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dementia & architecture house of memories
20 21
180365661
Lewis Baylin Newcastle University Academic Portfolio 2020/21
LEWIS BAYLIN
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Lewis Baylin Newcastle University Studio 4 House of Memories Academic Portfolio 2020/21 180365661
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Contents Reflective Report
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Framing
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Testing
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Synthesis
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Cultural Bibliography
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Bibliography
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List of Figures
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Appendix
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Reflective Report By Lewis Baylin Newcastle University Studio Tutors: Neveen Hamza & Stuart Franklin House of Memories
This last year of my degree has proved highly rewarding and has helped develop my skills with regards to both digital software and critical thinking. The house of memories studio offers an unmatched design brief, providing new and innovative approaches to therapeutic design. When reflecting on my learning experience through COVID-19, I have found that my dedication to the course has largely improved. I was able to work longer hours with less distraction. Despite this, the year has also proved complex and difficult at times however I feel the extra time that I have invested has helped me achieve a high degree of resolution in my design project and other modules this year. The site used for this project is Located along Westgate Road on the campus of ageing and vitality and is currently a live site. The site had one existing building which ran across the northern border of the site and provided an opportunity to preserve and retrofit the building. I had always been fascinated with preservation projects, so I saw this piece of historical fabric as a great opportunity to preserve and repurpose the structure. ARC3014 helped gave insight into the process of delivering and retrofitting a preserved building alongside the regulations and safety tests which need to be taken place to ensure structural safety and reduced exposure to dangerous pollutants such as asbestos. The site also has a 2m change in level running 40 meters down the North-eastern boarder of the site. I initially recognised this change in level as a site constraint, however through precedent research and the study of buildings such as the Sill, I began to recognise this change in level as an opportunity. This installation of an accessible green roof allowed me to integrate within
the site grain and embed the design within the context. This was a very challenging design process however it resulted in design which communicates with the surrounding landscape. Designing a dementia care facility has helped me understand the scale of which modern day care home facilities fail to support the needs of a patient living with dementia. In the framing phase, I learnt from errors of today’s modern day care home setting and used that information to inform the production of space. I believe that in order to design space, you first must perceive the environments through the lens of the intended user. I used psychological theory learnt in ARC3015 such as I James’s Gibson’s theory of affordances to provide an analytical framework which helps identify what aspects of an environments help the user to complete every-day tasks, and which act as a barrier. I used this theory to inform both the dementia pod and the wider form of the design in order to create an environment which listens to the needs of a patient living with dementia. Designing from the micro to the macro I felt played a crucial role in underpinning the fundamental qualities of a therapeutic environment, and largely informed the wider project programme. My own personal exploration of dementia care followed research into an ecological model of care which aimed to respond to the natural environment through both form and function. An exploration into this field was informed through my dissertation research where I had studied the benefits which derive from a connection with the natural environment. I took this a step further and researched the benefits of agricultural therapy in relation to dementia care and found that this was already beginning to take place through “day care” farms in Norway. This research helped me form a strong narrative, one which if feel passionate about. ARC3013 informed the integration of the ecological approach which I had taken, with re-
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search into the technicalities of integrated PVS and the different types of inhabitable green roof. Now understanding the needs of a dementia patient, the testing phase allowed me to manipulate environmental conditions through the use of design simulation. Environmental simulations provide quantifiable data which can result in design efficiency, safety and an improved quality of life for people of all ages. Evidence based design has helped me to understand how environmental conditions directly impact upon quality of life, especially to those who are highly sensitive to the environment. So, through using software such as Envi-Met and Velux Lighting, I was able to design in response to the climatic conditions and adapt the design to provide optimum conditions for those living with dementia. This made the project feel truer to life, as many students including me can often fall victim to design with ignorance to the climatic conditions.
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This year I attempted to create a strong bond between my dissertation topic, my design project and other related modules in order to satisfy my strong interest in environmental psychology. I have been able to use knowledge from theorists’ such as Jay Appleton and James Gibson to inform my design, in order to create a therapeutic healing environment, which listen to the psychological needs of the users within the space. This year has also development my skills in a medical field of architecture and propelled my interest in pursuing a career in this field in the future.
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• Framing Reflection •
n the Framing phase we researched the intimate needs of a dementia patient and critically reflected on modern day examples to understand contemporary issues in the current care systems. We began designing from the cushion of the bed, with a focus on visual cues and reminders to maintain dignity and quality of life for the patient. My personal exploration utilises James Gibson’s theory of affordances to analyse how an environment furnishes the user with either comfort and safety or danger and agitation.
Learning, remembering and feeling space
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House of Memories
Dementia and architecture 6 Framing
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Agitation
Living with Dementia You wake up. You walk to the bathroom and look to see your own reflection, but instead an unrecognisable face stare’s back. You are filled with fright and begin to shout in panic. The reflection is in fact yourself, but your only memories of yourself are from many years ago. Dementia currently affects 850,000 people in the UK, with a projection to rise to 1 million by 20251 . Alzheimer’s is a degenerative dis¬ease which is irreversible and has no cure. It distorts perception and cognitive function meaning simple everyday task become much more chal¬lenging. The main symptoms of the dementia are impaired memory, impaired learning, agitation, a struggle to cope with age related challenges and impaired reasoning. This means that simple everyday tasks can be highly challenging, especially in environments which do not easily describe the use of the space. It is important to maintain self-worth, dignity and happiness of the patient through the production of space.2
Impaired Memory
Symptoms of Dementia
Impaired Learning
Age Related Issues
Impaired Reasoning
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Dementia Age Groups
90-94
95+
85-89
This shows the current age distribution of people living with dementia in the UK, with the majority ranging in the 90-95+ range. Newcastle Upon Tyne has significantly higher rates than other areas of the UK with recorded average age approximately 65.
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People with Dementia in the UK The current number of people living with dementia in the UK is 875,000, projected to rise to 1 million by 2025. Due the diseases uncurable nature, there is greater importance on how space is designed and manipulated to creates environments which help to reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s.
875.5k
2015
Dementia in the UK
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2025
Where People Live with Dementia
Care Homes Community
A current issue in today’s society is the quantity of undiagnosed people living with dementia. Without diagnosis this means they do not receive the support needed and are still a large part of the community.
Men vs Women with Dementia
350,000 Men
The data shows that women are at a much high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, with 500,000 women compared to 350,000 women in the UK. Women over 60 are also two times as likely to develop dementia than breast cancer. This shows that women are highly susceptible to dementia and it is important to have a framework which focuses fairly on both genders.3
500,000 Women
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Project Declaration The Importance of Natural Light & Ventilation Natural light and ventilation are key aspects of the care home environment determine particular behaviours. Natural lighting is important for the dementia patient as it can maintain a natural circadian rhythm and promote a healthy sleeping routine. Natural Ventilation can improve air quality and reduce overall building energy consumption. Stale environments can lead to thermal anaesthesia which can increases agitation levels in patients.
Breaking Down the Institutional Setting Many care homes of today offer very poor environments which are not tuned to the needs of a dementia patient. Long corridors, artificial lighting and a poor connection to the natural environment. These are common attributes of the institutional care home setting. It is important to challenge the errors in today’s care home industry in order to understand how to improve for the future.
Healing Spaces with User-centric Design A person living with dementia may struggle to take on simple everyday tasks, so it is important to design around the needs of the user. Understanding how the patient will perceive the environment will help the designer better understand how to design for the user. It could be suggested that therapeutic environments are underpinned by their connection to natural environment, maintaining this throughout the facility is a key consideration when designing.
Integration of the Wider Community Intergenerational activities play an important role in slowing the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Integrating the community and local schools will provide the patients with positive distractions and the opportunity for social interaction. The proposed urban farm provides the perfect opportunity to participate with the younger generations through agricultural therapy.
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Animal Therapy & Agricultural Activity My personal exploration led me into researching the benefits associated with the human animal-interaction. Animals and agricultural activity offer positive distractions for the dementia patients and help them connect with the natural environment resulting in feelings of self-worth and reduced agitation. The experience does not need to be conscious in order to reap the benefits associated with connecting to the natural environment. The Norwegian model of day “care farms”4 currently highlights the need for the connection between agriculture and dementia care, however through the weaving of an urban farm into the facility takes the approach to another level of lived experience.
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City Scape The site is located on Westgate Road in Newcastle Upon Tyne, on the Campus of Aging & Vitality. Currently the site is occupied by a 74-meter building which runs across the northern boarder of the site. The site previously situated the Newcastle General hospital however the site has now been cleared for the delivery of the new Dementia Research facility.
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An Ecological Approach to Dementia Care An ecological approach to dementia care embodies a response to the natural environment through both form and function. The form utilises the site topography, providing an accessible green roof which restores the land from which it takes up. The function of the site was inspired by research into the benefits of human-animal interaction in relation to dementia care, leading to the integration of an urban farm within the site. This function holds a marriage between agriculture and animal-therapy, affording a multisensory experience which transpires in feelings of happiness and improved mood whilst slowing the development of Alzheimer’s. I aim to connect with neighbouring farms, following in the same vein as Ouseburn city farm located 3.23km away.
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Climatic Conditions Sun Path The sun path will help to inform the programmatic decisions made, prioritising the residential clusters and reducing concern for less sensitive spaces such as locker rooms and staff areas. This means that the residential areas will be located furthest to the south of the site.
Prevailing Wind The wind rose shows the predominant wind speeds moving from South West to North East and will require vegetive protection and building form to reduce the wind speeds around the residential blocks.
Places of Historical Significance The site has just recently been cleared with the only building left on the site located along the northern border of the site. Retrofitting and preserving this building is a key part of my site master plan, with aims to integrate the building as a core part of the design, preserving the site history. The site will provide views out to the neighbouring church.
Exisitng Site Building
Campus for Ageing & Vitality
Site Newcastle Apostolic Church
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Immediate Site Fabric These images show the key materials and views of the immediate context and around the site. The neighbouring area is relatively deprived and cut off from the site. An important aspect of the site master plan would be integrating the community into the facility and landscape.
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Site Integration & Preservation
New Community Routes to Site Site Road Access to Site Demolished Site Buildings 0
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Existing Spatial Arrangements The site currently has a building running across the north of the site which I have previously mentioned the importance of maintain the site fabric. The recently demolished buildings are shown by the grey dashed line. There is also a preservation order on the site for the existing trees, maintaining as many existing trees as possible aligns with my vision of the site. The site currently has a 2m change in level running 40 meters down the North Eastern area of the site. The provides opportunity to integrate the building within the existing site context.
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Stage 1 Stage one of the construction process will include the identification of the existing trees on the site and removing a layer of topsoil before the construction process takes place.
Stage 2 The preserved building will be retrofit with a steel frame structural support and used a shell. The ground will be excavated as plans to use the existing site topography.
Stage 3 The foundations will be dug out beneath the load bearing walls and the ground source will be ready for installation in the intended courtyard space.
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Site Section North - South
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Oppertunities to Integrate the Wider Community The local community held a host of interactive opportunities to involve within the dementia care facility. Intergenerational activities can play a vital role in slowing the development of Alzheimer’s, so utilising the six local school’s in the urban farm within the site offers benefits for both parties. The local context is also highly diverse, with a range of ethnicities and religions within the neighbourhood. This includes Newcastle Mosque and Newcastle Apostolic Church within close proximity of the site, providing religious services for the residents.
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Tackling Contemporary Issues Institutional Environment
Poor Connection to Nature
Lack of Natural Light and Ventilation
Poor Circulation/ Lack of Wandering Path
Issues in Carehomes Today
Lost Sense of Home
Feelings of Disorientation / Confinement
Lack of ownership
Isolation from Wider Community
Contemporary issues in the standard institutional care home setting start from the individual dementia pods. There is lack of natural light and ventilation, a poor connection to the natural environment, isolation from neighbouring pods and a lost sense of home. I used contemporary issues to inform my personal pod design. Creating a two-pod module opened up a central space which can then be utilised for a different purpose.
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Designing from the Bed
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The core aspects of the design were: - Built in storage and furniture. - Views out to the natural environment, utilising a window seat. - Views to the toilet seat from the bed. - A sensory wall which provides stimulation to the patient. - Personalisation through a space to place a familiar piece of furniture. - A desk space to write, read or perform arts and crafts.
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The Application of Affordances
“Design must be a barrier against irritation instead of the incitement to it” - Richard Neutra
Psychologist James Gibson5 provides an analytical framework which helps the designer to begin to read the world in the same way as the user of the space. Understanding what spaces afford the user visual cues to the lavatory to maintain integrity and independence. Which spaces offer an intimate yet controlled connection with the natural environment? This psychological theory helps to underpin the key affordances that enable a person living with dementia to live an independent, rich life.
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The 6 Affordances of the Pod
An adaptable room is a key aspect of the environment. It affords users at varied levels of illness or disability to access the external environment even if confined to the bed. The bed can be wheeled out into the outdoor space, maintaining a connection with the natural environment.
The bi-folding doors offer an expense of natural light and stimulation to the external environment and provide controlled access for users at varied levels of illness. The patio area affords a sheltered space for bed-ridden patients to access.
The Tactile sensory wall will provide a multisensory experience through a collaboration with local artist Fiona grey, incorporating tactile tiles which have been created using prints from flowers gathered in the Northumberland countryside.
The central social space between the pods affords the opportunity for protected social interaction, combatting the loneliness epidemic in the ageing population.
Personalisation plays an important role in the patient having familiarity and ownership over their own personal space. This allows them to create a home away from home and inhabit the space with an understanding that it is theirs and not a hotel etc.
Natural light is a highly important aspect of design within the dementia pod, however there is great importance in manipulating the light so that the patient does not interpret the strong shadow as void space in the ground. Solar shading affords the breakup of light intensity whilst providing high levels of natural light.
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Pod Module Developement
Volume
Recessed Area
Roof Light
Modular Cluster
L-Shaped Modular Cluster
L-Shaped Modular Cluster wit Curve
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Block Cluster The block cluster created a section of the building, which was private and controlled, whilst encouraging social interaction between the residents in an open plan living space. The social space however did not provide views sufficient views into the natural environment.
L-Shaped Cluster
Nord Architects Alzheimers Village
The L-shaped cluster provided external views from both the induvial pod and the external open plan living space. The living space also provided a wandering path within the individual cluster and thereby encouraging a more natural freedom to circulate the space.
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Initial Massing & Programme
Volume
Central Courtuard
Residential Pods in Repose to Sun Path
Wandering Path & Community Integration
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Early Massing Study Iterations
For my initial iteration I aimed to use the sun path to inform the location of the residential blocks and created a courtyard which had both passive surveillance and a wandering path. This iteration however did not provide substantial accommodation to meet the brief.
This iteration is designed with the correct brief requirements and works functionally in terms of spatial organisation, however the design attempts to detach itself from the 2-meter change in level by moving 40 meters south where the change in level dissipates. This also leaves the preserved building in isolation and detached from the design.-
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Spatial Hierarchy Natural Light & Ventilation
Privacy
Connection with Nature
High Significance Courtyards/ Gardens Residential Pod
Residential Pod
Entrance/ Reception Treatment/ Consultation Rooms
Family/ Shared Area Staff Rooms
Function Space
Residential Pod
Staff Rooms
Function Space Courtyards/ Gardens
Meeting Rooms Storage/ Plant Rooms Storage/ Plant Rooms
Treatment/ Consultation Rooms
Family/ Shared Area
Entrance/ Reception
Bathrooms
Wandering Path Function Space
Wandering Path
Staff Rooms
Family/ Shared Area
Meeting Rooms
Wandering Path Treatment/ Consultation Rooms
Courtyards/ Gardens
Bathrooms
Meeting Rooms Bathrooms
Entrance/ Reception
Storage/ Plant Rooms
Low Significance
Programmatic Concept
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Programmatic Strategy Campus for Ageing & Vitality Play Area
Residential Modules
Residential Modules
Family Area
Consultation and Staff Rooms
Consultation and Staff Rooms
Proposed Public Route
Staff Area and Offices
Preserved Site Building
Dementia Village
Residential Modules
Residential Modules
Brighton Grove Residential Area
Family Area
Urban Farm Community Cafe
Winter Garden
Play Area
The Gardens Carehome, Sweden The Gardens care home situates a courtyard and shared living space at the heart of the facility. Creating a sense of community at the heart of the facility is a notion I wish to take forward in my own personal design and one that is present in other therapeutic environments such as the Maggie’s Centre’s with the symbolic dining table at the centre of the facility.
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site visit
Maggies, Leeds
creating a therapeutic environment
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Welcoming entrance
The Maggies Philosphy Maggie Jenks was a landscape architect and wife to architectural theorists Charles Jenks and was inspired to form the Maggie’s centres through her own negative experiences in the institutional setting . The Maggie’s Centre in Leeds in particular captures the philosophy of a therapeutic environment and enforces an ecological approach through its form and function, utilising an intensive green roof. The brief for a Maggie’s Centre: - Welcoming entrance. - A space to pause beyond the door. - Garden - A dining table at the heart of the building - A Focus on artwork - A sustainable approach to design Taking these principles into my own design where possible I feel is key to producing a therapeutic environment.
A space to pause beyond the door
Garden
Art work throughout
A table at the heart of the building
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• Testing •
uring the testing phase we used knowledge acquired from framing along side new knowledge on the importance of climatic conditions in relation to dementia care. People with dementia are highly sensitive environmental conditions such as wind speeds, daylight levels and ventilation. We began learning how to use software such as Envi-Met and Velux to inform our design iterations. This method of evidence-based design provides a way of quantifying environment data and using real life simulation to manipulates environments so that they improve well-being and quality of life for the patients. Throughout this phase I focus on responding to the sun path, light studies, shadows and prevailing winds in order to produce a therapeutic environment which listens to the psychological needs of the user.
Rediscovering space
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Dementia & Architecture
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Material Strategy Cross-Laminated Timber -CLT will be used in the primary and secondary structural elements. -CLT has a low embodied energy. -High degree of prefabrication can be achieved. -Timber produces a warm tactile sensation when touched. -Visual benefits to health and well-being.
Anodised Aluminium Bronze Cladding -Connects with the rustic farm material palette. -Provides a cold tactile sensation when touched. -Anodized aluminium will not fade and is easier to repair compared to powder coated aluminum.
Cedar Shingle Cladding -Connects with traditional barn style typology. -Brings detail and texture to the façade design. -Highly durable and stable. -Follows the environmental friendly approach and can be locally sourced.
Preserved Limestone -Utilising preserved shell structure from existing site building -Connecting with materiality of the surrounding Campus for Aging & Vitality -Free preserved material
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Structure & Design Language precedent studies
Milan Expo 2015 The Milan Expo uses a series of portal frames to provide structural support throughout the design with a glazed roof system. This design language is rhythmic provides an open-air environment inside. I plan to use a glulam portal frame structure in my building design.
Opole Rural Museum The Opole Rural Museum uses two types of stained shingle cladding an adaptable façade as well which acts as a solar shading system. This design palette resonates with my personal narrative and utilises sustainably sourced materials.
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Pod Module Iteration The pod module is a key space which requires a detail level of development in order to afford a space which the user can easily read. In the testing stage it was important to understand how different iterations of the pod module introduced light into the space in the most controlled yet efficient form.
Target Illumnance:200 LUX All Images created from 12pm Overcast
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Pod with Solid Roof East
Iteration 01 utilised a curved glazed screen, however this led to intense levels of sunlight within the pods for each orientation. The curved screen provided a strong connection to the natural environment however the sunlight would create shadows which could be perceived as void spaces by the patient.
South
West
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Pod with Solid Roof East
This iteration shows a more functional angular shape which is slightly more recessed than the previous iteration. This provides an accessible space out on the patio for the dementia patient however intensities of sunlight were still measured at over 700 lux in large areas of the pod.
South
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Pod with Solid Roof East
The third iteration shows a halfrecessed area and the utilisation of solar shading to reduce light intensities. This proved effective and reduce light intensities however there was need for a more even distribution of natural light. The next iteration will require indirect natural light using the roof scape.
South
West
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Residential Pod Design spatial duality
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Design Features 1- This double function space provides a social seating area outside of each pod to provide points of rest and interaction around the wandering path. The seating spaces provide guided views into the courtyard space. 2- This is a space for a memory box and provides recognisable photographs or ornaments to help the user identify their own territory. 3- The sensory wall will utilise tactile art worked that I created in the thinking through making stage and integrate a token of the Northumberland countryside within the pods. 4- The desk space provides a space to read, write or other hobbies which can be taken on their own initiative. 5- Bed side cabinet provide space to personalise with ornaments and memorable photographs, but also acts as an element of privacy. 6- The en-suite provides disabled access for patients at different levels of illness. 7- A personalised chair can be brought in from their own homes if necessary, maintaining a coherent sense of home throughout the dementia pod. 8- The window seat provides a comfort space which allows the patient to connect with the natural environment on a more intimate level. 9- Shared bathroom created from the pod module organisation. 10- Shared seating area provides opportunity for social interaction; combatting the loneliness pandemic that the ageing population currently suffers with.
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Pod Daylight Analysis
East Orientation
South Orientation
West Orientation
21st June
21st March
The ideal distribution of daylight within the pods is 200 LUX, this is achieved through the current design orientation, with the sky light providing additional light deeper into the pods.
21st December
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Providing Natural Ventilation The pod is designed to provide two types of natural ventilation., this includes stack ventilation using the Velux sky light and cross-ventilation. Natural ventilation reduces mechanical ventilation costs and also reduces the patients chance of developing thermal anaesthesia in stale environments.
Overhang Shading
The overhang provides a sheltered patio area which protects the patient from intense levels of natural light. This helps to reduce strong contrast in shadows within the pod, meaning that the patient does not mistake the shadows for a void space.
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An Intimate Threshold integrating small scale sustainable measures
Grey Water Harvesting through Facade (a) When attempting to integrate both sustainability and intimacy with nature into the dementia pod, I collaborated ideas of grey water harvesting, and light control using technical qualities within the façade. The grey water harvesting system as shown uses the patio area to harvest and collect grey water. Within my personal exploration in the render shown on the right, I had integrated a self-sufficient grey water harvesting system which channels water into a small planting system, with excess water released into the ground.
Kintic Facade and Daylight Regulator (b) The kinetic façade system in the ‘Petting Farm’ shows the adaptable design of space through a rhythmic movement of the façade. I have taken qualities from this design and applied them to instead the control of light. I have proposed a motorised system which will allow the patient to adjust the lighting levels as desired.
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• A Integrated Connection with Nature •
Prospect & Refuge “ to see without being seen”
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Tactile Art Installation thinking through making - working with local artist
For thinking through making, I wanted to create a tactile installation for the sensory wall would integrate a token of the Northumberland countryside. I was inspired by local artist Fiona Grey and decided to create my own tactile tiles.
Art work throughout
Materials & Cultivation I foraged for wildflowers in a similar fashion to artist Fiona grey, collecting them from the Northumberland countryside. I used clay and a small frame to cast the tiles into a square shape.
Flower Press I then pressed the flower into the lay in order to create an inverse cast of the flowers and left them under pressure for several minutes.
Inverse Cast Next, removing the flowers from the clay print and use plaster to create a cast of the inverse flower detail. I let the cast site for 30 minutes before removing the clay and frame.
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northumberland countryside
Tacatile Art Tile
creating a therapeutic environment
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Application of Installation
Mouser Care Furnishing Systems When creating the sensory wall wanted to create a multisensory experience through tactile natural art like the Mouser Care Furnishing Systems. This allows the patient to engage in environment which simulates the natural and lead to reduced agitation and improved mood through positive distractions for the patients..
Sensory Wall & Tactile Art This render shows the response to both the Mouser Care Furnishing precedent study and the thinking through making piece. The application of the tactile tiles will provide an intimate yet safe connection with the natural environment.
Shadow Study The light studies on the right show how the kinetic façade system can them be perforated with the same design language and connection to the natural environment. Plant shadows can sometimes be mistaken for disturbing visions or void spaces, so by making the shadow geometric and abstract, this can be avoided.
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• Application of Art to Perforated Kinetic Facde •
• Abstract Shadow Pattern Derived from Foraged Flower •
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• Massing in Response to Environmentsl Conditions •
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Key Massing Study Iterations
Creating a Functional Space
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My original design failed to acknowledge the site topography and the reserved building on the site. The building worked programmatically but I did not respond to the context of the site. The courtyard space was largely overshadowed as show on the studies above. Integration of Preserved Building
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This iteration began to incorporate the existing preserved site building and the 2-meter change in level through the introduction of an accessible green roof. The courtyard was still largely shaded by the southern residential block. Utilising the Site Topography
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This iteration shows a more resolved accessible green roof, through digging down 1 meter it provided a 3-meter space to integrate a floor underneath the existing site topography. I Then orientated the Eastern residential block to maximise sunlight exposure.
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Creating an Entrance
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Welcoming entrance
“the roof garden, restoring, the area of the ground covered by the house.”
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Le Corbusier
The Sill Creating a first impression is key to any therapeutic environment, so making an entrance which is safe yet engaging was key to my design process. Through utilising the existing site topography, I was able to integrate an accessible green roof whilst recessing the entrance point to create a safe sheltered environment. The Sill forms a similar relationship with the site typography and inspired the design of the green roof. Moreover, I created a dementia friendly chicken coup which is symbolic of my general building form.
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Entrance Development
I spent a long time trying to create an entrance space which utilised the existing site topography. This is an early concept sketch however the level change has been misunderstood. I instead had to dig down into the site fabric in order to produce a 3-meter-high space beneath the green roof.
For the intergenerational space, I wanted to create a space which was adaptable ad interchangeable depending upon its required need. This elevation study shows the adaptable space when the kinetic façade is closed. This kinetic façade provides a continuity of language connecting to the individual pod façade systems. This timber cladding also provides solar shading however it may be read as a closed environment due to the nature and spacing of the cladding.
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• Integrating Adaptable Space •
Creating Adaptable Spaces Creating an adaptable space for the community which is both inviting and functional was key to this design idea. This area of the building is called the agricultural research area and provides a space for the neighbouring schools and the local community to come and spend time researching, studying, and interacting with different farm animals. This opens as a functional space for bringing livestock into the courtyard space when necessary.
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Massing Study Iterations maintaining an intimate and equal connection the natural environment
This massing shows the two-story residential blocks which have been orientated in order to increase natural sunlight. The first story residential blocks would be able to utilise roof lights to increase indirect natural light however there we be restricted access to the natural environment. The two-story residential blocks would also increase shading over the courtyard space at varied times of the years and day.
The next iteration was focused on providing equal access the natural environments and equal access to natural daylight. Through creating an 8-person pod module it meant that every resident could have an equal share of the environmental benefits. Furthermore, this would also reduce overshadowing in the courtyard space.
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Testing Iterations
These lighting studies show the distribution of light at 12:00 on the 21st of June, although there are high levels of natural light, there is an uneven distribution of light within the induvial pods for patients living on the ground floor compared to those living on the first floor. Similarly, the pods on the ground floor have easier access to the external environment compared to their first-floor counterparts.
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The ground floor 8 pod module utilises a sky light for each induvial pod and provides an even distribution of lighting throughout the room. The studies were taken at the same time and date as the simulation above. These benefits follow into the open plan shared areas, with all patients having equal access to the natural environment and daylight.
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Pod Structural System
06 1 – Bi-folding doors offering visual and physical access to the outdoors. 2 – Perforated timber partition providing privacy but also the opportunity for social interaction.
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3 – Kinetic façade window seat with integrated grey water harvesting system. 4 – Integrated Photovoltaics into the curved roof profile.
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5 – Sky light providing natural lighting and ventilation 6 – Bauder extensive green roof
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8 Pod Module The exploded structural axonometric shows the integrated sustainability measures, structural components and the relationship to the open plan living space.
07 1 - Kinetic façade window seat with integrated grey water harvesting system. 2 – 8 Pod Module 3 – Primary CLT structural frame for open plan living space. 4 – Primary CLT Frame for 8 pod module structure.
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Plan Design Issues
Seperating Public & Private
Making A Clear Wondering Path
One issues that was identified was the lack separation between public and private spaces. People could potentially wander into patient consultation rooms or other private areas. This could prove dangerous for either patients or staff if an unwanted member of the public infiltrated the facility.
It was then important to compartment the external garden space and create a wandering path internally and externally. The wider site wandering path may lead to disorientation for the patient, so it is important to continue design language around the courtyard space.
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Plan Adjustments
Resolving First Floor Plans
Continuation of Design Language
I adjusted the wider patient wandering path through a redirected channel which provides visual access to the central courtyard and physical access to the onsite shop and barbers. This reduces and controls movement in more private areas of the facility.
The northwest region off the design failed to speak the same language as the more organic eastern area of the facility. Through continuing the design language it provided a space which can then be used as the winder site wandering path, and controlling views into the courtyard space.
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Final Massing Shadow Study
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21st March
21st December
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Natural Ventilation
Natural Ventilation and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery Natural Ventilation Strategies: - Crossflow Ventilation - Stack Effect - Top-down ventilation - Single Side ventilation Mechanical ventilation also be used throughout the facility and within the individual pods, the use of negative pressure in the en suites of the pods will help to ventilate the individual rooms. The heat recovery system maintains heat energy from warm stail air as it passes through a heated metal plate and reheats incoming fresh air5.
Grey Water Harvesting
Run Off Clothes Washing
FIlter Unit
Underground Water Storage
Toilet Flushing
OverFlow Ground
Pump Garden Water
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Structural System & Integrated Sustainability
1) Primary - Foundations and Concrete Floor Slab 2) Primary - Glulam Portal Frames and Supporting Frames 3) Primary - Concrete Cores 4) Secondary - CLT Wall, Floor and Roof Panels
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5) Secondary - Timber Support Joists 6) Tertiary - Glazing 7) Tertiary - External Cladding 8) Tertiary - Roof Finish, Integrated Pv and Green Roof
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Integrated Photovoltaics
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Stage 4 Stage 4 shows the primary structural elements that are positioned onsite, this includes the glulam portal frame, concrete floor slabs and concrete cores
Stage 5 Stage 5 shows the the secondary structural elements that are constructed, elements such as the timber joists and CLT roof and wall panels are positioned in place.
Stage 6 Lastly the landscaping connecting the dementia village to the south of the site will be created and the semi-intensive green roof will be laid on the appropriate areas of the site.
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Environmental Simulation manipulating wind speeds around the site
Site Observation & Aims When using the environmental simulator, it was key to assure that wind speeds were regulated at the entrance points around the building as well as the external spaces that the patients had access to. The prevailing winds were directed from the 235 degrees meaning that a protective layer was necessary to allow patients to use their patio spaces.It was important to reduce wind speeds, but not completely stop the wind as that would reduce the natural ventilation that the winds provide. The wind simulations on the right are shown for a previous iteration however some of the results are incorrect.
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Adjustments to Combat Prevailing Wind
In response to the Envi-Met simulation it was clear that additional vegetive barriers were necessary to reduce the prevailing winds and noise pollution from the surrounding roads. This also provides views out into nature for the patients.
Recessing the entrance point provides a sheltered space which is free from wind. This reduced wind speeds and assured the entrance point was safe and located in the opposite direction to the prevailing winds.
The protected courtyard space allows the patients, public and staff to safely access the external environment whilst being protected from the prevailing winds. The building has been designed to shelter the in internal courtyard however if the environment becomes too stale this can lead to thermal anaesthesia.
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•Synthesis •
uring the synthesis phase I worked closely in developing spaces experienced by both the public and the patient. I aimed to convey the ecological narrative as strongly as possible in this section whilst still paying homage the urban grain and preservation of the site. I created atmospherics of key thresholds around the site, further showing the relationship between the building and the immediate context.
An optimistic space
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Dementia & Architecture
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Process Diagrams
Overshadowing Courtyard
Wind Channel
Subtraction
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Following Sun Orientation
Two Story Pod Structure
Curved Green Roof
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Single Story Module
Continuation of Design Language
Resolved Design
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Final Iteration Site Plan
Wind Rose
Winter Sun Path
Summer Sun Path
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Integrating within the Site Fabric
This isometric image shows the relationship between surrounding context and my design. I aimed to show the intimate scale of the building and how it seamlessly sinks into the surrounding context. The design is considerate of the surrounding building heights and instead spreads the full expanse of the site. I overlayed an environmental simulation over the isometric model to show the protected courtyard space and entrances points, highlighting how the vegetative barrier provides relief from the prevailing winds.
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Preservation & Retrofit of Existing Site Fabric Preservation is a key aspect when maintaining an honest connection to the urban grain. This building was once used as part of the Newcastle General Infirmary but will now live on beyond the lives of its demolished counterparts. I was inspired to reuse part of the space as a winter garden, affording a connection to the natural environment even in winter for the dementia patients and the public. Due to the orientation of the building, it was important to introduce a glazed roof system to maximise north light. I also reinforced the structure with a steel frame in order to maintain structural integrity of the space. I wanted to maintain the original limestone brick, but also add timber shingles and cladding with anodized bronze in connection with traditional farm materials. Componants 1 - Anodized aluminium bronze window cladding 2 - Stained larch cladding 3 - Stained timber shingle cladding 4 - Integrated photovoltaics into roof profile 5 - Glazed roof system 6 - Steel structural frame 7 - Anodized aluminium bronze window cladding and mullions 8 - Triple glazed glass
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A Welcoming Entrance New & Old prospect & refuge This perspective shows a street view of the building and the relationship between new and old, form and function. This follows Jay Appleton’s theory of prospect and refuge providing a protected recessed entrance or accessible green roof which breaths views over the courtyard space. This shows how the sheep are free to graze the green roof space and maintain the landscape in a controlled and safe way.
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The Public Journey
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Agricultural Research Area intergenerational space
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Agricultural Research Area technical study
The agricultural research area is an intergenerational space which provides opportunity for patients, neighbouring schools, and the wider community to interact and take part in agricultural therapy. This detail shows the relationship between the atmosphere and the technical qualities of the space. This window space will provide natural daylight and ventilation in both winter and summer. The small trickle vents will provide natural ventilation in the winter and the larger window opening will provide natural ventilation through summer.
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Resolved Ground Floor Plan A table at the heart of the building
• 2 Minuite Timed Concept Drawing •
Wandering Path with Passive Surveillance
Wider Site Wandering Path - Restricted Times
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Resolved First Floor Plan
• 30 Second Timed Concept Drawing •
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Section Through Central Courtyard public vs private
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East Elevation
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“all really inhabited space bears the essence of the notion of home” - Gaston Bachelard
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A Home Away From Home
PERSONALISATION & POSITIVE DISTRACTIONS
DAYLIGHT AND NATURE
CONTRASTING COLOURS
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The Patient Journey
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creating positive distractions
A Focus on Nature creating a therapeutic environment
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Prospect & Refuge prospect & refuge
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The Patient Journey
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Healing Garden
The Patient Journey
external wandering path
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Cultural Bibliography
Lock Down Design Business When I first moved into my new university home at the start of the year, I was in the process of making my bedroom a homely environment. I thought to myself it would be nice to have some football related artwork on the wall. So, I looked on Etsy to find something which I liked before realising maybe I could just make something myself? This was the start of my small lockdown business venture. 9 months and 400 sales later I have created a small and somewhat successful print design business which feels just like a hobby or something creative to do aside from architecture. This has proved quite challenging at times balancing print orders and university work however it has been a great project that will hopefully continue to grow in conjunction with my career in architecture.
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Architects for Health Student Design Awards Competition 2021 This year I was nominated to submit my building into the Architects for Health Student Design Awards Competition 2021. The AfH is a healthcare orientated architect association and hosts health care webinars and a host of other health related design education services. The field of healthcare design is one that is deeply rooted in my interests through both personal experience and through designing a dementia care facility this year.
An Ecological Approach to Dementia Care By Lewis Baylin Newcastle University Studio Tutors: Neveen Hamza & Stuart Franklin lewisbaylin20@gmail.com
You wake up. You walk to the bathroom and look to see your own reflection, but instead an unrecognisable face stare’s back. You are filled with freight and begin to shout in panic. The reflection is yourself, but your only memories of yourself are from many years ago. Dementia currently affects 850,000 people in the UK, with projection to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. This project aims to challenge the modern-day institutional care home setting and create a framework which acknowledges the needs of people living with dementia whilst integrating the wider community.
Does the space afford visual cues to the lavatory to maintain independence and integrity of the patient? And does the space offer an intimate yet controlled connection with the natural environment? Richard Neutra reminds us that “design must be the barrier against irritation instead of the incitement to it”. This is ever more important when designing for vulnerable and frail. The use of evidence-based design offers an informative design process which uses environmental simulation and daylight studies to create optimum living conditions for those living with dementia, reducing agitation and sensory overload for the patients.
The current site for this project is located on Westgate Road in Newcastle Upon Tyne, on the Campus of Ageing & Vitality. The deprived residential area of Arthurs Hill neighbours the Eastern region of the site. My project preserves the only non-demolished building on the site, integrating the historical fabric into the project.
Next, I focused on designing a modular L-shaped pod cluster, designed without corridors. The open plan living space provides privacy for each individual pod whilst offering positive distractions through controlled views outwards into the courtyard space. An internal and external wandering path offers the patient feelings of freedom and empowerment, allowing them to move naturally without reaching a corridor end and becoming agitated.
An ecological approach to dementia care embodies a response to the natural environment through both form and function. The form utilises the site topography, providing an accessible green roof which restores the land from which it takes up. The function of the site was inspired by research into the benefits of human-animal interaction in relation to dementia care, leading to the integration of an urban farm within the site. This function holds a marriage between agriculture and animal-therapy, affording a multisensory experience which transpires in feelings of self-worth and improved mood whilst slowing the development of Alzheimer’s.
The overall form of the building has a focus on maintaining a consistent connection to the natural environment, to benefit both the wider community, the patients and the staff. Benefits which arise from such connection are somewhat deterministic to one’s health on both a physical and mental level at all stages of the human condition. They should not be ignored.
I began this project designing from the small scale, the individual dementia pods. The fundamental qualities of this spaces relied on understanding how a person living with dementia will perceive the environment.
House of Memories
• Design Competition Submission •
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Recreating Studio Culture
COVID-19 home learning has been a very challenging experience for many people across the world. I was lucky enough to live with 5 other architecture students and together we attempted to reform the studio environment. This reconnected our home with the studio atmosphere and helped us to maintain high spirits in such a challenging time.
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Influential Readings
Thematic Case Studies
Terrassenhaus
These chosen thematic case studies helped to inform some of my design language studies and gave structural insight in to producing spaces at different levels of scale. Due to the nature of dementia care it was hard to use the precedents through programmatic design.
11 Hebelstrasse Apartment Along A Party Wall Herzog & de Meuron Thematic Housing Typology Isobel Prosser, Benoit Rawlings, Jiwoo Kim Philip Russell, Hana Baraka
Brandlhuber+ Edme, Burlon and Muck Petzet Architekten Berlin 2018
City Ruins ARC 3001 2020-21 Sergison Bates Case Study Urban Housing Vienna, Austria 2013
Wohnheim Sargfabrik BKK-2 Architects Co-Housing Vienna, Austria
Studio 1 A Manifesto for Housing Thomas Adams Alexander McCall Samuel Hare Eleanor Jarah Dawei Zhao
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Bibliography Bibliography 1 Alzheimer’s Society. 2021. Facts for the media. [online] Available at: <https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/ news-and-media/facts-media> [Accessed 11 February 2021]. 2 Baylin, L., 2021. Rediscovering Space ARC3015. Undergraduate. Newcastle University. 3 Alzheimer’s Research UK. n.d. Women and Dementia: A Marginalised Majority | Alzheimer’s Research UK. [online] Available at: <https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-us/ our-influence/policy-work/reports/women-dementia/> [Accessed 9 February 2021]. 4 de Bruin, S., Pedersen, I. and Eriksen, S., 2018. Care Farming for People with Dementia; What Can Healthcare Leaders Learn from This Innovative Care Concept?. [online] Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC7071884/> [Accessed 9 February 2021]. 5 James J. Gibson, The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception (Hillside, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1986), pp.127-43
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List of Figures List of Figures -
Any other Figure has been produced by myself.
Page Number: 27 Nordarchitects.dk. n.d. [online] Available at: <https://www.nordarchitects.dk/alzheimer-dax> [Accessed 11 January 2021]. Page Number: 31 Archello. n.d. The Gardens, Carehome for elderly | Marge Arkitekter AB | Archello. [online] Available at: <https://archello.com/project/the-gardens-carehome-for-elderly> [Accessed 10 March 2021]. Page Number: 33 Floornature.com. n.d. Heatherwick Studio has completed the new Maggie’s Centre in Leeds | Floornature. [online] Available at: <https://www.floornature.com/heatherwick-studio-has-completed-new-maggieas-centre-leeds-15674/> [Accessed 15 February 2021]. Page Number: 36 Nes-solutions.co.uk. n.d. Anodised Cladding Fabricator UK | Anodised Aluminium Cladding – NES Solutions. [online] Available at: <https://www.nes-solutions.co.uk/cladding/anodised-aluminium-cladding> [Accessed 10 February 2021].t Page Number:37 Etherington, R., 2019. Admin building for Opole Rural Museum by db2 Architekci | Dezeen. [online] Dezeen. Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2009/10/06/admin-buildingfor-opole-rural-museum-by-db2-architekci/> [Accessed 7 April 2021].
Page Number:37 LUSIARDI, F., n.d. Milan | EXPO 2015 | Pavilion of Spain | Inexhibit. [online] Inexhibit. Available at: <https://www.inexhibit. com/case-studies/milan-expo-2015-pavilion-spain/> [Accessed 3 February 2021]. Page Number 44: Unknown Figure (a) Page Number 44: Figure (b) ArchDaily. 2020. Petting Farm / 70F Architecture. [online] Available at: <https://www.archdaily.com/29965/petting-farm-70f-architecture> [Accessed 11 January 2021]. Page Number:48 Feddersen, E., Lüdtke, I. and Reisenberger, J., n.d. Lost in space. Page Number 53: The Sill. n.d. The Sill • The UK’s National Landscape Discovery Centre. [online] Available at: <https://www.thesill.org.uk/> [Accessed 12 March 2021]. Page Number 54 Journal. 2018. Open Up: 8 Dynamic Wood Façades Built With Kinetic Cladding - Architizer Journal. [online] Available at: <https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/kinetic-wood-cladding/> [Accessed 7 February 2021].
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Appendix my thematic section
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Nightime Render
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Material Floor Plan
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