Designing for independent living at extra-care facilities in Argel

Our architectural approach to this scheme was to create a new style of flexible care facility that focuses on encouraging active and independent living for its residents. The development is designed to enable dementia care to be provided as part of a range of extra-care services.

The scheme's layout and character is based on the concept of a village. The central ‘square’ creates a social hub and focal point for the community with residential areas accessed by circulation configured as internal streets. This approach is reinforced by each self-contained apartment having its own threshold and traditional front door.

Internally, the accommodation is designed with individual characteristics, so that the apartments feel like homes. While functionally suitable to the general older population, these homes are also flexible enough to support changes to the hierarchy of care services as people become progressively more dependent.

A central garden courtyard is designed to provide a safe, engaging environment sheltered from the elements. Its intuitive layout creates a guided journey with seating, familiar focal points and therapeutic gardening activities.

Building forms are simple and carefully informed by the local environment. Familiar materials, such as brick and render, are used in vertical elements to break down the mass to a human scale and the orientation allows all dwellings to benefit from natural daylight, sheltered south facing terraces and views of retained landscape features.

This scheme provides a robust framework for a vibrant new community. It responds to a flexible care structure for older people and dementia sufferers whilst providing high quality, secure and individual accommodation that supports independence and quality of life.

The complex brief was structured around creating an environment that supports dementia care services as part of the community. Our response aims to create a strong sense of place and ownership, in addition to satisfying stringent Lifetime Homes and environmental quality standards.