Intergenerational Space

In the intergenerational space the visitors can come and engage in activities together with the patients, improving the well-being and communicative abilities of the elderly. My intergenerational space is a planting area made from timber and polycarbonate sheets.

The polycarbonate sheets are fixed to the timber beams with fixing buttons and aluminium -glazed bars.

Initial 3D sketch of the Intergenerational space

Technical approaches and design considerations

Water harvesting system was one of the environmentally-friendly approaches I took, to lower the water and energy consumption costs.

I used the VELUX software to monitor the daily and yearly levels of sunlight and based on that I figured out the optimum height and positioning for the window openings for the parient rooms.

Solar panels are a great investment, improving the energyefficiency of a building. For my project I chose to use solar panel tiles that can seamlessly blend with the rooftop slope, avoiding the chunkier look of the usual solar panel installations.

Orientating the patient pods to the south, I ensured a maximum use of the natural daylight, that has proven beneficial effects on the mood of the dementia patients.

Buildings

Envelope consists of:

-softwood cladding, -breathaable membrane,

-plywood board, -insulation vapour control layer, -plasterboard

Dementia Pods

Design response to the dementia syndrome

• Maximizing natural light

• Direct visibility from the bed to the: entrance door, bathroom door, TV, and window

• Wheelchair access

• Contrasting colour on the bathroom door

Main building aims, responding to the dementia needs

• Feature facilities to enable household activities.

• A continuous wandering path all around the building with benches and rest areas.

Garden

• Domestic, home-like environment.

• Provide a safe outdoor space.

Wandering Path

Living room

East Elevation

South Elevation

Weast Elevation

Extension Renovation

Redesigning the fence, converting the old storehouse and adding a smaller house construction on the side is what I was asked to do. I am currently working on this project trying out different layouts and space configurations. Here is what I have done so far.

North view First Floor

My initial approach after speaking to the client was to create a sheltered area (blue) for the barbecue. In the middle I wanted to preserve the little side house dwelling, turning it into a small guest house(pink). Instead of plant fence, I was asked to make a new thicker one from stone masonry with concrete foundations and clay tiles on top (as a protection from the rainwater).

Finally I decided to make the design a little bit more ambitious and extend the construction further away (fig.3). I opened the view towards the nearby mountains (fig1) and additionally designed an enclosed garden (fig2) as part of the house, so that the people can have a direct view to it from the bedroom and the living room. The view, when looking towards the mountains at both ends of the house.

Solar Panels

For my design I got inspired by a company called “SunRoof”, that makes solar panels. One of the houses, they have worked on, also has an enclosed, glazed garden similar to mine. Even thought my solar panels are not directly facing south they still get enough sunlight for the solar panels to produce energy.

The air inside the garden can get very moist from the plants and the humidity levels must be kept under control. By opening the lower panel windows and the upper ones we are insuring a constant airflow, that will keep the environment inside well-ventilated.

Bedroom First Floor

*For my final year dissertation project I chose to do a research on the relationship between architecture and furniture design. While preparing my argumentation I realized how influential Bauhaus movement is. I got really inspired by the modern furniture pieces and my affinity towards interior design has emerged.