A {tag:studenci} from Łódź University of Technology also took part in the international competition Beyond Isolation: Senior Housing. Her project is a Senior Home that could be built in Łódź. The concept, which combines comfortable housing, adequate medical care and social activation, was shortlisted for the Buildner competition.
The international competition focused on alleviating the effects of isolation experienced by an aging population worldwide. The organizers wanted to highlight the problem of loneliness present among seniors. They were looking for high-quality housing designs and housing strategies with features that allow seniors to engage in neighborhood life. The location of the project could be any, and the regulations encouraged the design of facilities integrated with additional functions, such as stores, workshops and exchange centers. We wrote about the composition of the jury and the exact guidelines in the article Swidermayer with CLT. Re-Sanatorium project doubly awarded concerning the project by Warsaw University of Technology students Ewa Maniak, Karolina Rorat, Zofia Zwijacz. The team received as many as two awards Third Prize and the Buildner Student Award.
common space in the Senior Citizen's House
© Natalia Dembińska
Senior Citizens' Home in Łódź
In addition to the awards and prizes, the shortlist for the competition was also announced. On it were several projects from Poland including Better Together by Natalia Dembinska from the Technical University of Łódź.
Developing cities and rising housing costs intensify the need to create spaces that meet the needs of different user groups — in this case, the elderly. The subject of my work is the Senior Citizens' House in Łódź. The concept of the building along with the surrounding space was created on the basis of the accepted claim that architecture is a direct factor influencing the structuring of society and multifaceted thinking on the designed spaces is recommended, which directly contributes to the elimination of the problem of alienation of the elderly group. Studies show that by the middle of the 21st century, one in five people on Earth will be over 60. Therefore, there is a need for specific measures in the field of architecture to create spaces that will create conditions for a long, happy life," says the author.
A senior citizen's house together with a greenhouse
© Natalia Dembinskaya
The main goal was to create a space that users would associate with home, while at the same time providing adequate care, appropriate to their age. The student wanted to change the thinking about this type of facilities and show how important it is to think multifaceted in the context of their design.
Senior Citizens' Home in Łódź, site plan
© Natalia Dembinskaya
modernity and tradition
TheSenior Citizen's House is located on a corner plot at the intersection of Książka and Łupkowa Streets in Łódź, in the Bałuty district. The site is located near residential neighborhoods, a school and a hospice, which allows residents to integrate with nearby communities.
Senior Citizen House, first floor plan
© Natalia Dembinska
Designed by an architecture student, the block combines modernity with tradition. The basis for shaping was to refer to a residential neighborhood, while preserving the form of a single building. The building contains both private and public zones, which are connected by means of a green atrium, outdoor terraces, or functions designed for communal spending and integration.
The greenhouse at the Senior House
© Natalia Dembinskaya
a building for everyone
The facility is adapted to people with limited mobility. Doors, passageways and floors are created with a no-threshold system. The apartments have been adapted to the needs of all users, and multifunctional, mobile furniture can easily change its use.
Green atriums are conducive to spending time together
© Natalia Dembinskaya
An additional feature is a greenhouse, where residents can grow plants all year round. They are irrigated by rainwater, collected in a tank integrated into the building's drainage system, connected to the irrigation system. The greenhouse also serves as a connecting area and a place to spend active time together.
