Elderly Housing Design in Europe
The differences between elderly housing here in America compared with elderly housing in Europe has always been alarming to us. The elderly housing typical of American design seems marked by large scale mega-complexes intended to house the maximum amount of people with the minimum amount of effort. The housing is usually pushed out of sight (and out of mind) and the work lacks inspiration, composition and identity. We’ll eventually pay the price for such near-sighted design when the majority of us end up spending the tail-end of our lives in these overlooked, dreary facilities.
In stark contrast, the work in Europe tends toward a human scale and seems to evoke a sense of community. These projects are situated in gorgeous settings with fantastic views; the design seems deliberate and thought-out by good architects. It’s as if the Europeans aim to offer respect and appreciation to those individuals who paved the way before them. How novel.
But enough of our ranting. Today we’re going to give you the scoop on some truly phenomenal elderly housing projects. As always, let us know what we missed out there.
Steinfeld Retirement and Nursing Home in Steinfeld Austria by Dietger Wissounig Architekten
Geriatric Center in Ciutadella, Menorca Spain by Manuel Ocaña
Senior Center in Lich Germany by Pfeifer Kuhn Architekten
Elderly Housing Project in Chur Switzerland by Peter Zumthor
Tårnåsen Elderly Housing near Oslo Norway by Kvernaas Arkitekten
Stadtcarre in Bad Rappenau Germany by ASIR architekten
Elbschloss Residenz in Hamburg Germany by KPW Architekten
St. Pölten Pensioner and Nursing home in St. Pölten Austria by Georg W. Reinberg
Plaine de Scarpe in Lallaing France by Yann Brunel
St. Michael Senior Center in Berlin Germany by GAP Architektur
Vigs Angar in Kopingebro Sweden by Husberg Architects Office AB
Ulrika Eleonora Senior Home in Loviisa Finland by L&M Sievänen Architects
Toftehaven in Ballerup Denmark by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects
Wohnuberbauung Steinacker in Zurich Switzerland by Hasler Schlatter Partner Architekten
By Keiser, March 21, 2010 @ 10:17 pm
I don’t think that more interesting architecture necessarily means that it’s a better elderly living facility. While the design of American elderly homes might be bland and dull in aesthetic terms, the facilities inside are typically quite advanced.
By Mobius, March 21, 2010 @ 10:26 pm
If there was ever a design realm where we’re truly painting ourselves into a corner, elderly housing is it. Our generation is literally designing the crap that we’ll have to live in someday.
By Madison, March 21, 2010 @ 10:51 pm
The American landscape for senior housing is depressing overall but there are some pockets of nice work being done. Perkins Eastman is making a go of it.
http://www.perkinseastman.com/projects.aspx?list=2400021
By Gus, March 22, 2010 @ 11:00 am
I’d be very happy to spend the end of my life in any one of these examples.
By Taryn, March 22, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
Having visited my grandmother on the weekend in a very bland and dull nursing home, i can say that an aesthetically beautiful surrounding would have a huge effect on her outlook and mental wellbeing. I think she would be much happier in any of these locations! We don’t strive for technically advanced but aesthetically lacking housing elsewhere, why should it be the case for the elderly?
By Jonas, March 22, 2010 @ 7:20 pm
I have spent the last several years working on a “boutique retirement community” in Boulder, CO. The average age is 80-85 yrs old. It is a unique project because it made use of an existing late 1800′s catholic girls academy that had fallen into complete disrepair. Along with the renovation came the addition of a new 4 story building (18 units) and 9 single family style bungalows. Its right in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood. Its not as modern as these European examples, but there is nothing institutional or mega plex about it. It has definitely started a trend here in Boulder toward more active lifestyle elderly housing. http://www.theacademyboulder.com/home.php
By Matt, March 24, 2010 @ 5:22 pm
By and large, I thought most of the projects above were great and contained a number of elements I would love to see replicated in the US. With that said, I found the standard architecture pictures – beautifully rendered, but wholly absent of people – disquieting. I actually want to see the residents in these buildings – their absence (with the exception of Lich Germany project) diminishes the very value these projects were seemingly designed to embody.
By mike, March 27, 2010 @ 7:26 pm
wait, you don’t find the work of weber + thompson inspirational?!?
as someone w/ more than one relative in a ‘retirement home’ – i’m highly interested in seeing the bar significantly raised on our side of the pond.
a number of the known retirement communities in europe are run by congregations, such as the one in lich as well as zumthors altenheim in masans.
By MeredithF, October 20, 2011 @ 8:55 am
This type of work is so inspirational especially given what seems more acceptable in this country is the cheapest faux traditional look possible to make the elderly feel ‘at home’.
By aqil, March 17, 2012 @ 5:02 pm
it don’t seems that the facility dont have enough the charateristic to evoke the sences of ‘home’