Presentation on developments in architectural design of care homes in the UK, citing examples of best-practice from Canada, Denmark and the UK. Elder care Residential homes Care homes

1. Care homes Architecture; innovation & technology
In this ‘sketchbook’, are some
recent and contemporary
examples of communal living
that can pivot into elder-care
and housing models
These are not necessarily
care-homes in the UK sense,
but modes of sharing and
living that are enhanced by
innovative Design and
design-led thinking.
These models can be
replicated for your
organisation and build the
brand into an efficient,
replicable and effective
means of delivery of elderly
care and housing.

2. Improvements in medical
technology will mean that
more people will enjoy active
longevity.
Conversely, geriatric
maladies may also increase
the requirements for the care
of the elderly.
Time-scales measured in
decades and generations
could create novel market
opportunities for the
implementation of innovative
designs.
These solutions could offer a
chance for providers to align
with both public and private
agencies to create integrated
communities, facilities and
homes.
Care homes as a lifestyle choice

3. Saettedammen in Denmark is
an intentionally
intergenerational
communities. Designed to
balance between aging
seniors and their younger
counterparts, who are
themselves balancing work
and family.
The elderly are encouraged
to take active roles in the
maintenance of the site.
A large community space,
which houses all FM facilities
and anchors the
development.
Interestingly, each of the 27
families/households has to
prepare, cook and clear up
one meal in the communal
dining room each month.
Care homes as an multi-generational community
Dwelling with smaller gardens
to rear field
Dwellings with larger gardens
to create perimeter
Main community space and
FM hub
Dwellings are simple duplex
terraces

4. A first thought is to plan
something halfway between
a housing association and a
commune.
A third of over 65s live alone
and more than 60% of those
are women. It might be
possible to embrace this fact
and arrange campus style
living.
This collegiate way of living,
with shared facilities
supplemented with common
services, allows residents to
benefit, as they see fit, from
the collective.
Care homes as a semi-rural commune

5. Care homes as a semi-rural commune
a gatehouse and convent for
a small community [of Sisters
for poor Clare] are immersed
into the hills surrounding the
monumental landmark [of
Cathedral d’ Ronchamp].
…the convent is comprised of
individual units which
accommodate daily activities
for each of the chapel’s
dozen resident sisters. The
separate concrete cubes are
positioned in clusters on the
west side of the complex
providing outward views to
the valley below.”
https://www.designboom.co
m/architecture/renzo-piano-
rehabilitation-of-the-
ronchamp-site/
“

6. A second thought is to build
an ultra-efficient low-rise
tower block on a foundation
offering shared communal
facilities.
Increasingly your residents
will be from an urbanised
flat-dwelling environment
and this will be an entirely
natural choice for them.
Value added engagement
will draw tenants into the
front of house retail
opportunities, whilst security
through depth and design
will strictly demarcate private
and public realms.
This approach also has the
possibility of synergy’s with
106 agreements, CILA
arrangements and like-
minded developers
Care homes as an urban tower-block

7. The ten-storey development
is a series of interconnected
blocks housing 59 one and
two-bed apartments, a
health spa, gym, swimming
pool, resident's lounge,
library, gardens and a public
restaurant and cafe.
Blocks are arranged around
the central garden space,
which is visible as soon as
residents and visitors enter
the reception and is
overlooked by the public
restaurant, the larder of
which opens onto a small
herb garden.”
https://www.dezeen.com/201
9/09/02/belle-vue-morris-
company-retirement-home-
hampstead-london-uk/
Care homes as an urban tower-block
“

8. The creation of the feeling of
independence for those who
are highly dependent on
typical care-home services
can be addressed at all
manner of scales.
These services; mechanical,
physical, social, hygienic and
practical can all be addressed
by good design and efficient
system choices.
By simplifying service runs
and kinetic envelopes
residents can flexibly enjoy
their units without the need
to relocate, sell or abandon
their spaces for the sake of
long term treatment
requirements.
Care homes as modest homes

9. The Village, surrounded by
Langley’s suburban sprawl,
occupies five acres of quiet
near Anderson Creek.
Both secluded and spacious,
a cluster of six “cottages”
linked by broad walkways to
a barn and garden at one
end and a reception building
(with bistro and general
store) at the other.
Each cottage is designed for
12 residents, looked after by
three staff. The residents’
rooms are built around a
central space including a
kitchen, dining area and
social areas. In one social
area, an electronic gadget
reminds residents, “This is
Friday afternoon.” The rooms
are a good size, with ensuite
bathrooms, and residents can
bring their own familiar beds
and other furniture.”
Care homes as modest homes
https://www.thevillagelangley.com/
https://thetyee.ca/Langley-Village
“

10. The combination of highly
serviced and low-serviced
areas, as well as relatively
high densities of people,
allows for efficient building
specification choices.
Regularised and unitised
design and planning allows
for technological innovations
such as SIPS systems, both in
wood and RC.
BIM, provides further
efficiencies, along with
modularised construction
techniques.
Care-homes with their high
populations and need for
efficient temperature control.
lend themselves to
sustainable design
techniques and the benefits
they bring.
Care homes as exemplary dwellings

11. It is fair to say that modern
high-density care-home
provision is possible along
sheltered-housing,
communal living and other
novel modes of elderly care.
It is likely that UK
competitors are utilising
S.107 (CLI) and Ppg 7 (Nppf
55) regulations to
‘innovatively’ build big, build
well, and build brands.
Disruptive competitors are
also testing the field;
https://cohabitas.com/
We look forward to starting
the next stage of our
conversation.
Kind regards,
RMT-A