View Full Version : Low maintenance Housing for Elderly & Disabled
el-capitano
09-10-2006, 09:33
Project for the Department of Housing, for units for the elderly and disabled.
100m from the hospital, 400m from the train station and in the Liverpool CBD (outer suburb of Sydney).
Low maintenance materials, and a new modern apperance was the brief.
As the site was located amongst owner occupied units, they did not want the building to look like a "dept building".
So this is what we came up with.
el-capitano
09-10-2006, 09:35
front facade
el-capitano
09-10-2006, 09:39
side of building
Some floor plans would be helpful. And very interesting, as I have been studying this stuff last year for school.
Buildings exclusive for eldery and disabled people seem to be something usual in other countries but you don't find them in Brazil. Can you tell what kind of adaptations were made in comparison to a standard project to fit these people's necessities?
André Moraes
09-10-2006, 21:28
some plants of the adaptations for the eldery will be interesting.. i'm curious about how the eldars live in a building like that..
From your second photo it looks like there is already the need for some maintainence with the broken security intercom hanging off the wall!
I'm also wondering why to create a low maintainence building one would utilise custom orb sheeting for the balustrading where in oz the trim around the end of each panel will likely fill with spiders and their webs. I know from even glass balustrading that each corner can fill with spiders here within two weeks of removing them, even up ten floors.
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 01:54
From your second photo it looks like there is already the need for some maintainence with the broken security intercom hanging off the wall!
I'm also wondering why to create a low maintainence building one would utilise custom orb sheeting for the balustrading where in oz the trim around the end of each panel will likely fill with spiders and their webs. I know from even glass balustrading that each corner can fill with spiders here within two weeks of removing them, even up ten floors.
Lol- these photos were during last stages of construction- hence and unfinished intercom.....
Regarding the maintenance, the department's spec was basically that they didnt want to re-paint anything, wanted raw/ powdercoated finishes. About the spider webs, I don't think that there is anyplace within Australia that doesnt have webs, so I think we'll just have to live with that!!
got some plans for us brian? what about some interior shots?
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 01:57
some plants of the adaptations for the eldery will be interesting.. i'm curious about how the eldars live in a building like that..
Basically, to get a lot of space in the CBD area, with close access to facilities, is impossible, so we decided on a multi storey design with two lifts to provide level access to all single sotrey units.
If one lift is getting serviced/ broken down then there is still another for them to use even with the building being only 4 storeys, with power backup.
Also, there is a community room in the bottom left hand corner of the development, for all of the residents to get out of their units, meet each other and being able to book it out for family functions etc.
From your second photo it looks like there is already the need for some maintainence with the broken security intercom hanging off the wall!
I'm also wondering why to create a low maintainence building one would utilise custom orb sheeting for the balustrading where in oz the trim around the end of each panel will likely fill with spiders and their webs. I know from even glass balustrading that each corner can fill with spiders here within two weeks of removing them, even up ten floors.
LOL... since when did spiders become an architectural problem richard? :)
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 01:59
got some plans for us brian? what about some interior shots?
Interior is very cheap and nasty, and easily replaceable for the Dept. for any damage occuring. I'll see what I have.
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 02:03
Here's one of the disabled units kitchens.
All units are similar with just the colour theme changing per floor.
A lovely beige for ground floor, blue, for second, green for third and cream for top floor!!!!
LOL... since when did spiders become an architectural problem richard? :)
you obviously haven't been to australia
Interior is very cheap and nasty, and easily replaceable for the Dept. for any damage occuring. I'll see what I have.
Here's one of the disabled units kitchens.
All units are similar with just the colour theme changing per floor.
A lovely beige for ground floor, blue, for second, green for third and cream for top floor!!!!
well, elderly people do not like strong colour so the beige and cream floor is understandable. but i think what make-or-break a space is the use of lighting. i know it's meant to be el-cheapo and low maintenance, but those ceiling mounted lights really make the place feel depressing. i am not critisizing your decision (probably dictated by dept of housing), but just trying to raise the question for everyone to think how to go about finding better artificial lighting solutions for low maintenance and low budget projects.
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 02:13
Oh yeah- its a pity I dont have more shots of the living rooms. Due to the amount of lux that we have to provide in all of the living rooms there are four oyster light fittings in all the living and dining rooms.
The Dept. actually told us that they wanted to have only bayonet fittings in the ceiling, but the developer thought that was really bad and asked to put at least oysters.
He then had to put a plaque in each unit, telling the resident that the oyster fittings were a "gift" from the developer, and if broken that the Dept. was not required to replace them. (Similar situation to the blinds- no blinds/curtains etc were allowed but the developer put in verticals at his own cost so it didnt look so shonky......)
This looks to be a very nicely thought out project and well executed. Here in the United States "low maintenance" means reducing the amount of materials and geometry used on a particular project. From your photos I see brick, steel, aluminum, wood, concrete and a few other materials. It seems more practical to use fewer materials when considering the life span of a building designed for low maintenance, along with simple standard detailing. These are just my thoughts, I do appreciate the result of your project.
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 02:36
This looks to be a very nicely thought out project and well executed. Here in the United States "low maintenance" means reducing the amount of materials and geometry used on a particular project. From your photos I see brick, steel, aluminum, wood, concrete and a few other materials. It seems more practical to use fewer materials when considering the life span of a building designed for low maintenance, along with simple standard detailing. These are just my thoughts, I do appreciate the result of your project.
We were lucky and unlucky. Their are two sides, of course, to every department. The design section was encouraging us to use different materials as long as there was no paint, and materials were designed to keep their appearance guaranteed by manufacturer for min. 10-20 years.
The maintenance section were the 'nazis' on especially the interiors, constantly reminding us their maintenance budget for the next year..... ;)
franjayo
10-10-2006, 02:43
Interesting project, materials look expensive for a public housing project. What are those railings with horizontal lines made of? Seem like wires with a fabric backing.
About the colors, many elderly people lose their ability to see color. They start seeing the bright colors you see when young very toned down. All recommendations I've seen for elderly housing point out using bright colors to help with orientation as possible. Using different bright colors in each floor is a standard recommendation, they would also help in the interiors.
The kitchen should have short reachable shelving just above the counters and behind the sink to increase accesible storage.
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 02:49
Interesting project, materials look expensive for a public housing project. What are those railings with horizontal lines made of? Seem like wires with a fabric backing.
Custom Orb corrugated sheeting. Here's a close up.
brian,
got some plans to share with us?
brian,
got some plans to share with us?
For sure, unit layout and adaptability is certainly now here one of the most important features of units for older persons (as we must refer to it here to avoid discrimination)!
Here is an example of a 35 unit villa development I did some years ago for the same type of use.
For our peers abroad here is a list I prepared of the general design provisions that at the time of this design we needed to consider. This may be of some interest for those where such legislative provisions do not currently exist.
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 05:29
For our peers abroad here is a list I prepared of the general design provisions that at the time of this design we needed to consider. This may be of some interest for those where such legislative provisions do not currently exist.
that list looks very familiar!!! :bang head
el-capitano
10-10-2006, 05:35
typical floor plan as requested..........:)
Nice functional layout mate!
primocordara
10-10-2006, 11:13
Nice indeed!
I understand the authorities need to reduce the maintenance costs, here there are some units like these (for elderly and disabled) administered by the government, and there is also a concern about the maintenance of it.
How do you ventilate those 3 interior kitchens? Here we are required to have good ventilation (ie exterior windows) in kitchens. I see ducts in the bath rooms, but not in the kitchens?
Some floor plans would be helpful. And very interesting, as I have been studying this stuff last year for school.
Still waiting for those plans regarding the separate appartments. Can't comment on elderly and disabled problem with such big plans, that are unreadable for these matters...
I've worked in a lot projects for senior housing…the principal is meet the accessibility code 2' 10" clear openings for doors minimum..;.mostly 3' even in some health care facilities have 42" for every door which is very difficult to work with specially if the units are very small.
The kitchens (In USA) are very small now. The idea is they can make a breakfast or prepare something very simple and push them to use the Community Room so they can socialize more with the other residents.
About Materials, Carpet with out patterns is the best option..otherwise it can confuse their sense of depth (in Corridors)…the corridors usually change the color per floor then they can recognize pretty easy if they are on the correct level.
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