Our aim is for the future residents of the planned building complex to live in an environment that encourages active aging.
Although the planning program outlined in the brief does not specifically concern a traditional old people's home, similar considerations were influential during the design process, taking into account the environmental conditions. Our aim is for the future residents of the planned building complex to live in an environment that encourages active aging. The scale of the building should blend into the surroundings, not stand out, and the spatial systems should lead toward social integration with openness. Based on these considerations, we divided the mass into two units, which align with the terrain. The apartments are oriented towards the view, while their character is shaped by the public space they enclose. The different-sized masses, rotated relative to each other, create communal spaces where various services, as well as commercial and public functions, can be integrated, thereby enriching the lives of the residents in their immediate environment.
Elderly people and those with limited mobility are often characterized by a passive attitude, yet alongside their physical needs, it is important to consider their intellectual and social demands. When we talk about the design of their built environment, we should strive to avoid the feeling of segregation and direct the spatial systems towards promoting activity. In old age, a person often loses secondary social relationships, with only close family and friends remaining. However, these secondary connections are the ones that provide motivation for daily life. Accordingly, the places that strengthen looser relationships become more valuable, such as urban spaces, markets, or internal building corridors.
The design not only responds to the direct physical environment but is also meant to meet the functional requirements arising from the specific needs. The design area is a meeting point between two very different types of urban development (apartment blocks in a settlement-style layout and family house suburban areas), which creates a conflict in the city fabric. The goal of the new building is to resolve this conflict and manage the scale transition. Thus, the mass is split into a smaller, lower building and a larger, taller building. The slope of the site, in line with traditional practices, encourages behavior parallel to the contour lines. The two masses create an intermediate space suitable for a public urban meeting point.
Due to the residents' mobility and sensory limitations, the built environment surrounding them is crucial. In the orientation of the apartments, besides the lighting conditions, the view plays an essential role. The two buildings, taking advantage of the terrain slope, are placed in such a way that they are rotated from each other, ensuring unobstructed views from all apartments. The series of apartments aligned next to each other creates a clear spatial system, offering a comfortable home for elderly residents.
The buildings are accessible by public transportation from the city center via J. K. Tyla Street, with the bus stop connecting to the access road to the entrance. The pedestrian traffic system on the site follows the directions of the existing surrounding environment. The site is open, allowing free passage for anyone, thus providing opportunities for broader social interactions. The car access is from Havlíčkova Street. Here, we arrive at the semi-open garage at street level, which takes advantage of the slope, ventilates from the street side, and operates with a barrier. The parking areas lead to the service stairwell, equipped with elevators, that serves the two building blocks. The main entrances to the buildings are located at the public space they enclose.
Between the two buildings is a public space that accommodates various services on the ground floor of the rear block, such as a hairdresser, a cosmetics salon, and commercial and public functions like a café, a children’s playroom, and a club room. The additional functions serve as catalysts for the neighborhood, creating opportunities for active, accessible, and mobile aging and for social encounters.
The two buildings operate similarly in terms of function. On the ground floor, accessed from the public space, we arrive at the entrance to the smaller residential community, where the stairwell and mailboxes are located.
The logical grid-based design of the houses creates a corridor system that could be modified later. On the north side, a bright, open community corridor links the apartments in a row, where, similar to traditional porch houses, residents on the same level can meet and spend time together. The apartments opening from here can be considered private zones. The apartments are divided into three types based on their size. The smallest, a 30+10 m² apartment, is designed to be fully accessible for one person. The middle size, 35+10 m², includes some with an accessible bedroom and others designed for two residents. The largest, 45+15 m² apartment can accommodate two people in an accessible layout.
The plan proposes a spatial structure that links various levels of social interaction. The spatial sequence starts with the open public park, closely connected to commercial functions and services. The club room is designed for the residents of the two blocks only, while the smaller, more intimate communities are formed by residents on the same level. For them, the meeting place is the wide, bright corridor running along the front of the apartments. Beyond this, the apartments can be defined as private spaces, each with a connected private terrace.
Detti Kolossváry, Luca Mudry, Máté Pálfy
elderly-and apartment house
open international competition - honorable mention
Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic
elderly-and apartment house
open international competition - honorable mention
Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic
The building masses are positioned along the contour lines, supported by retaining walls. The structure follows a 2.70 m regular grid that accommodates the dimensions of the garage. Double-grid reinforced concrete pillar frames form the skeleton of the buildings and the parking structure below. The frame structure allows for flexible apartment layouts and sizes. External transverse walls, stair cores, and occasionally internal walls strengthen the system.
The façade materials adapt to the terrain’s characteristics and the formation of the community space between the two building masses. The façade cladding is organized around the central space, with inward-facing surfaces dominated by wood, which adds a warm, friendly character to the space. On the other side of the buildings, white plaster is more dominant. The windows and terraces break up the façade in line with the grid. The retaining wall at the basement level and the stairwell wall will be made of exposed concrete. The recessed terraces will be covered with wood, creating a transition between outdoor and indoor living spaces.
The primary objectives for the interior design are to create a sense of homeliness, clearly define usage, ensure accessibility, and promote activity. Rather than sterile behavior, adaptable spaces are needed where elderly residents can feel they have a say in shaping their environment. The side corridor is a spacious meeting place filled with natural light, reminiscent of a traditional porch. Accessibility is considered not only in the size of the spaces but also in the choice of window and door hardware and the contrast of surface colors.
The public park connected to the elderly home utilizes the sloping terrain to provide the maximum possible green area. The central space functions as a marketplace or event area at times. Tall grasses define the plant life in the space, which also plays a role in structuring the space. Benches and raised beds are placed throughout the area. In one corner of the park, the café’s outdoor tables are located. Accessible pedestrian access is provided via a walking path bordered by an artificial water surface, coming from J. K. Tyla Street. The circulation system weaving through the site integrates seamlessly with the surrounding pedestrian networks. The existing trees are taken into account in the layout, with most being preserved. Small paths and steps cross the sloped terrain, with resting points and benches fixed to retaining walls along the way.
The lower, smaller building block features an extensive green roof, which, when viewed from the terraces of the rear taller building, softens the scale of the built structure. The green roof also helps with rainwater drainage and enhances the thermal comfort of the building. Solar panels are installed on the roof structure of the upper building block to assist with the energy supply of both buildings.
The building complex will be equipped with modern, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Due to the pillar-frame structure, ventilation ducts and mechanical systems can be easily integrated, while mechanical shafts between the garage level and the floors ensure effective energy distribution. A garage runs under the two building blocks, providing secure parking for cars, as well as technical rooms, storage spaces, and waste disposal areas. The garage benefits from natural ventilation due to the slope of the terrain. Special attention is given to stormwater management due to the sloped site. The extensive green roof collects and slowly redirects rainwater, while the garage-level drainage system prevents water accumulation on the lower levels.
Due to the southwestern orientation of the apartments, external shading is necessary on this side. The recessed terraces block direct sunlight, preventing excessive heating of the apartments. The terraces are complemented with retractable textile shading devices that can be controlled remotely. The north side corridors of the buildings are closed with fixed façade shading devices. The public space and the immediate surroundings of the building are planted with larger, leafy trees, providing natural shade during the summer months.