Living for the Elderly

Eckhard Feddersen, architect, feddersenarchitekten, Berlin, Germany; Insa Lüdtke, architect, cocon concept, Berlin

PRINCIPLES.- Foreword.- Universal design - a declaration of independence.- Housing and living in old age.- The changing pattern of life phases, roles and needs.- Dementia as a form of being.- On withdrawal and acceptance - contributions from medicine and psychology.- Living and dying.- Dismantling a taboo: living in a hospice.- The elderly in societies.- Different approaches to dealing with demographic developments - an international comparison of its perception and possible solutions.- Safety - Security - Orientation.- The essence of dwelling and its analogies in the urban realm.- Interior architecture and product design.- Approaches to outfitting, retrofitting and conversion.- Sheltered housing, communal housing ...- Different models and approaches (including care concepts).- PROCESSES.- Developing holistic architectural solutions: Interdisciplinary teamwork and heterogeneous client structures.- Designing for people with dementia: Safety and security as design parameters.- Technical installations and construction.- Sustainability / Climate / Energy.- Operators, trustees, clients.- Housing industry and health care services; banks and investors. Project management, cost controlling.- Outsourcing services.- Focussing on the resident.- Quality management, users studies and interviews as a basis for the design process.- TYPOLOGIES / CASE STUDIES.- Introduction (detailing selection, structure, typologies etc.).- Structure of the project section.- Residential typologies (approx. 20 case studies).- Agency: housing industry.- Residential categories.- What requirements should floor plans fulfil for residential housing for the elderly? (Starting point: 2-room apartment).- Nursing home typologies (approx. 20 case studies).- Agency: health care and social services.- Typical floor plan configurations.- Centralised and decentralised solutions, functional programmes, group sizes etc.