THE ALZHEIMER CENTER FOR THE ELDERLY IN SINGAPORE
The future design center for the elderly is the center for for retired elderly with 24/7 caring, daycare with the function that helps those elderly who have difBicult to do the daily routine, especially, the Home for elderly is functional for the Alzheimer patients.
The location of this future Home of elderly is located at 107A Sophia Road, Singapore. At Birst, this building was a girl’s school, then it belonged to RafBles & Laselle school of design cooporation. The new function of the building would be totally different with the old functions. That is why the macro analysis and micro analysis have been done berfore and showed as the very Birst parts come berfore this Schematic design.
The new concept of the building has been inspired by the Sand glass shape – which has the curves and nice natural color combinations. The color scheme to be applied on the building would be also changed one hundred percent to be refreshing as well more lively with the neutral and natural colors. Because this new function of this building require a speciBic care for older people and Alzhermer patients, so in this schematic design, desingers have been redesigned and chosen carefully the most convenient in design, also the facilities for those special clients.
Design Concept
The concept of the eldercare center will be the sand glass shape. The sand glass shape is not only represents for the age, the time but also it indicates the new recyling circulation. It brings the hope, the new future to people but it also reminds us to treasure our time, to know the importance of the time, the youth and from that, we can learn the importance of our life.
The sand glass concept will be applied to the interior as it shape. The shape of the sand watch is very special with the two big curves and a narrow alley. The curves of the sand glass will be the inspiration to apply to the Bixtures, even the ceiling of the building.
Sand glass usually has the main color scheme like golden yellow, brown of the wood and white of the sand. The color scheme of the interior design has been also inspired by the color of the sand glass. These neutral and natural colors will bring the nice, friendly and warm ambience to the center, also create a safe and clean atmosphere to the elderly.
The design of the center will be the a bit classic taste combines with Contemporary Style. These style not only bring to the natural evironment but also as the the friendly and clean atmosphere to the user.
Concept application
General Designed Floor plan
The lower ground floor of the center mostly is for the public areas as Dining area, Living area, Hair salon, Guest room. Some of the areas are Bedrooms, Nurstation and even Quiet Room. The focus area and as well the central area of this floor is the Indoor garden that is for the group activities of the patients.
The zoning layout is done purposely for the convenience and comfort of the users who will be living in the center for the rest of their life. And that is why designer wanted to put his passion in design to give the client his best solution of interior design.
The Ground floor of the Azheimer center is the main floor that will welcome the guests from outside and is also the main entrance of the center. There are office department that placed indepentdently from the heakthcare department. The healthcare department will be begining with the Reception area, Activity room and Guest room. Then the rest mostly is the Bedroom.
There area a lot of kinds of bedroom: 2 Bedroom, 3 Bedroom and 4 Bedroom. With this difference, the clients will have more choice to chose a suitable place for them to live in , depending on their budget. Some elderly couple refer to live together, so the 2 Bedroom will be the ideal choice for them to live and as well to to be taken care by the service of the center.
The 2nd floor is the special area of the centre where there is the area for only Alzheimer patients who need a special healthcare routine and service for the them.
There is also a Dining area that is for the Alzheimer patients who have the special help from the staff for the eating activity.
The opposite block is the the continuos office department from the 1st floor.
The highest floor is used for the Rooftop garden where patients can gather and to the planting activities such as watering, taking care of the plants and even feed the fish in the fountain.
This area is created in the aim to relax the patients’ mind and to establish an open space that they can connect to the nature and outside world.
There is also the Activities room for the patients who would like to read or play chess and watch TV with their friends.
FOCUS AREA 1: 2 BEDROOM
Ceiling plan
This room can be used for a couple or 2 separated persons, there is no big size bed but 2 single beds for each person because the special specification of the Alzheimer disease.
There is a standard quality toilet included in the bedroom for 2 persons. The room also provides the good needs for living with TV, bookshelf, armchairs and tables. The design is also well done for the elderly.
Because of the construction cannot be changed so designer did not remove all the windows in the room, instead of reducing the number of windows in the room, the designer decided to put the lights in the room to be approriate for the elderly – as the clients to use.
Section Elevations
The section elevation A shows the most important function of the room with 2 single beds, windows, wardrobe and bookshelf. The bed is connected with the side table to provide the convenience for the elderly with a table lamp.
The wall with windows is painted in yeloow color to create a interesting view for the general room. The book shelf is design with suitable height for the clients to easy to use.
The three windows play the role to bring into the room natural light at day time. The windows belong to the main constructure of the house so designer cannot change their design as well the window position.
Lighting is also important, especially in bedroom for the elderly. Designer had to struggle to find out the best solution for the numbers of the the lights as well what kind of lighting can be used to be suited for the elderly.
The section elevation B introduces the right side view of the room with a big wardrobe for 2 persons. The wardrobe is also designed in suitable height for them to reach. There is also a big mirror in the right hand side of the wardrobe.
The hanged shelf is mounted to the wall to make the room less boring and be more functional. The shelf is also hanged in the height which the wheelchair user can reach. Next to the chair is the toilet door. The 2 arcmchairs and side view of the TV table is also showed in this section elevation
Section Elevation C shows the left side view of the 2 bed bedroom. This section has a special wall with a part of it is mounted in with dark brown wood laminate panels. The air conditioning system is also put on this wall section.
There is a set of chairs and table which are designed to be %itted with the elderly to read books with the hanging bookshelf beside. The wall section near the bed is also design will small mounted area with a painting frame hanged in.
Artist Impression
In the sleeping area, the colors were chosen to be fit with the main concept as the sand glass. These corlors include: White, Yellow and Brown. The colors not only create a classy and warm atmosphere but also suitable for the elderly, especially the Azheimer patients who need a good environment to take care of their health.
The materials selected to applied in this area mostly are wood. From the floor, vinyl wood laminate was chosen because of its long lasting quality and nice color. Also, the accent mounted part on the wall or the reccessed ceiling was put by a little bit taste of wood laminate. Most of the furnitures were in wood material as well.
The walls were painted with white and yellow color – with the purpose to create a clean and friendly atmosphere to clients. Down lights also chosen and put in good positions to provide enough light to the room but not to be disturbing to the elderly at night or day time.
The toilet is specialized for the elderly in general, especially for Alzheimer patients. The sink counter is designed to be suited for the height of the elderly. The mirror was extended to be full to the wall wide, it is also the focus point of the toilet and to refect the images to make the toilet look bigger.
The toilet also follows the main concept as the sand glass with yellow color for the flooring and wall material, white for the fixtures and brown as the accent colot of the furniture.
There are also a handrail goes along the wall which is near the toilet bowl area. Also, there is a supporting handrail with the toilet role included attached next to the toilet bowl. The shower area includes: Hanged chair to help those cannot stand for long time. Handrail with rose, soap tray, shower tray for wheelchair accessibility and a glass panel to prenvent splashing water.
Materials
FOCUS AREA 2: ROOFTOP GARDEN
The floor plan indicates the rooftop garden at the 3rd floor of the center.
The 3rd floor especially designed for Alzheimer’s department which includes 2- level activities room and a rooftop garden. This floor plan introduces generally the rooftop garden not only for Alzheimer patients, but also for normal elderly to visit. The function of this room is a natural environmental entertaining place for the clients with activities like: planting, taking care of the fish, relaxing and meeting.
There is a are 2 different flooring material – the first material is resysta wood which is a kind of wood can be placed outdoor, this wood is safe to elderly, long lasting and heavy duty. The second one is natural grass which is a environment for planting trees.
There is also a between lower floor level to have water in it to create a nicer atmosphere for the garden was well to harmony to Feng Shui theory.
The isometric shows the general view of the rooftop garden. It can be easily seen the total layout of the area. By showing the isometric view, the relation between the functions of the rooftop garden has been indicated clearly and easy to be understood. Most of the space is used for the free activities, the curvy shape of the fountain and tree port has been inspired by the Sand glass concept, the flooring is also based on the main concept as its curved shape. The green grass area is the area for people to get in the nature when they come and meet people or sight seeing. The wooden flooring is more connected to the main general %looring of the 3rd when people access and impressed by the curvy multifunction fountain.
here is also a lower level water flooring to create a nice ambience and to be matched with the fountain nearby.
This 40sq.m rooftop garden has the function as a relaxing area for the elderly to enjoy the whole view of the Moun Sophia area from the top level of the building. The rooftop has the circulation for moving to the wooden flooring area to the grass ground area, the grass ground area is the main area which contains furnitures for the free activities while the wooden flooring contain the multifunction foutain and connection of the interior flooring.
The multifunction fountain has two part: the first part is having water with fish, people can take care of the fish as one of the free activities in the roof top garden. The other part of it is the tree port for planting, the elderly can take care of the plants as well rest on the multifunction fountain.
Materials
