A {tag:studenci} from the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski University in Krakow received an honorable mention for her engineering design of the Senior Citizen's House in Jaworzno. Under the guidance of Prof. Katarzyna Banasik-Petri, the young architect created a space that responds to the key needs of elderly male and female residents, offering them a place that promotes health, independence and a sense of belonging.
visualization
© Natalia Adamiak
senior well-being
The main goal of Natalia Adamiak's project was to create architecture that not only provides comfortable living conditions, but also supports the psychological and social well-being of seniors and senior citizens. Thanks to the applied concept of cohousing, the Senior House combines private spaces with common areas, which encourages residents and residents to interact on a daily basis, counteracting isolation and loneliness. This approach makes it possible to live in a community, while providing needed privacy.
The design took into account both the functionality of the building and the natural landscape qualities of the area where it is to be built - and these are exceptionally rich. The use of numerous glazings and contact with greenery is intended to provide users and users with regular contact with nature, which has a soothing effect on mood and health.
visualization
© Natalia Adamiak
therapeutic aspect of the project
The Senior Citizen's House was planned on a plot of land with a high degree of greenery, with a rich stand of trees and near the GEOsfera recreational center. The presence of greenery and carefully designed surroundings enhance the quality of life, influencing stress reduction and positive attitude. The project involves not only the preservation of the existing stand of trees, but also the addition of new plantings, enhancing the visual character of the place and building its natural atmosphere.
The building's glazing, placed especially in passageways and common areas, allows residents to admire the changing seasons and natural phenomena. Thoughtfully designed perceptual spaces, or places designed to experience nature, are one of the key elements of the project. They allow seniors to enjoy views of plants, water and natural light - elements that help them concentrate and promote tranquility.
visualization
© Natalia Adamiak
spatial layout
The Senior Citizen's House in Jaworzno consists of a main building designed for 20 residents and two smaller gazebos with the character of open pavilions, planned as integration spaces. The layout of the building was designed to functionally separate private and public areas. The disjointed body of the building with two rectangular projections, connected by glass passageways, allows for the smooth blending of indoor and outdoor spaces.
Common areas and private rooms have been separated and separated by glazed corridors, creating transitional spaces that encourage walking and relaxation. These passageways are places especially planned as spaces for "encounters" with nature - seniors and senior citizens can enjoy the vegetation, water and the reflections in it that change with the seasons, giving them a sense of peace and pleasure.
visualization
© Natalia Adamiak
integration at the center of the project
The focal point of the Senior Center is a multi-purpose room, which acts as the heart of the building, allowing meetings, workshops, as well as various group activities. The plan also envisages communal spaces in the form of mini-salons and cafes, where residents and residents can meet in an intimate atmosphere. Such solutions foster integration and help create interpersonal bonds.
In the corridors leading to the private apartments, additional extensions and zones were planned, where one can relax, talk or spend time together. All of these elements, from the main multipurpose room to workshop areas and common relaxation spaces, have been planned to counteract isolation and create a conducive social environment.
board
© Natalia Adamiak
