1. FlatFlat
Office
Lounge
Dining
Main
Entrance
Flat
Flat
Flat
Flat
Flat Flat
Flat Flat Flat
Flat
Kitchen
Activities
Flat
Flat
Flat
Flat
Flat
Flat
Courtyard
Garden
In the UK Extra Care schemes have become a dominant model in the
housing with care sector. However recently questions around the balance
of care needs in these schemes especially for residents with dementia and
the complexities of living in these environments have been raised. Archadia
Architects have worked on a number of Extra Care schemes in the past 20
years and through this developed an understanding of the importance of not
only the physical design but the care model and how schemes can foster a
sense of community to improve the experience of residents with dementia.
This poster will evaluate three Extra Care projects designed by Archadia
through a series of diagrams focussing on design, care provision, technology,
facilities and relationships between residents and the wider community. This
will be supported by a number of interviews with care providers and residents
cross referenced with research tools and guidance on dementia friendly
environments. It will finally reflect on future models based on current research
that responds to the challenges and opportunities that integration for dementia
poses in the design of these schemes adding a valuable practice based
contribution to this ongoing debate.
This poster accompanies a more detailed report available on the Archadia Website
Understanding the Complexities of
Dementia in Extra Care Schemes
through Holistic Design
Patching Lodge
‘Up to 1/4 of
residents in Extra
Care schemes suffer
from some level of
dementia’
HDRC Report 2012
Beechwood Court
‘Community around a courtyard’
‘Enhancing the Local Community’
‘Design of the physical
environment has an important
role to play in the health and
wellbeing of people with
dementia. Building design that
supports people with dementia
and meets their needs can
improve their quality of life,
alleviate symptoms and reduce
stress levels’.
HDRC Report 2012
Key findings and Reflections for Future Practice;
- Benefits are gained from entrances and principal communal areas which are simply and
clearly arranged with as few solid walls as possible giving clear site lines into spaces as
they are approached along main internal routes.
- People feel more comfortable in smaller communal sitting areas or in sub divided larger
spaces maximising the opportunity for them to sit with their backs against a wall.
- There is a need for more innovation in signage solutions that will assist orientation while
retaining a domestic setting.
- Buildings with distinct typologies assist in making them recognisable externally as do
colour, symbols and names internally.
- Safe access to the external world is important and exit controls need to be developed
to meet the needs of residents with dementia and the staff that support them while retaining
independence for others.
- If the communal facilities are open to the wider community there should also be spaces
provided just for residents which gives a sense of ownership.
- Extra care schemes can provide a vital resource for communities; services provided in well
designed communal facilities can support people with dementia in the scheme as well as in
the local area.
www.archadia.co.uk
@ArchadiaArch
0208 941 5161
Ashley House, 58-60 Ashley Road,
Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HU
Lea Springs is a development of flexi-care housing in Harpenden consisting of 38 part shared ownership
and part rental self-contained flats for Housing and Care 21. Communal areas include a dining room,
internet café and activity room. The scheme has been designed with a series of pitched roofs providing the
appearance of individual houses giving the scheme a domestic scale, the design received a local award for
enhancing the environment of Harpenden.
Beechwood Court is a new-build extra care housing scheme for A2 Dominion consisting of 40 self-contained flats with
communal areas. The flats are generously sized and many benefit from large bay windows orientated to maximise
natural light and views. There is an attractive courtyard which provides accessible outdoor space and other common
areas including a hairdressing room and dining room with communal seating space adjacent to the front entrance.
Patching Lodge is a seven-storey 76-unit mixed tenure Extra Care housing scheme built on a prominent
corner site in Brighton for Hanover Housing. The project is a landmark building in the Eastern Road Corridor
with a striking design drawing inspiration from the seafront location. In addition to the extra care flats,
several facilities are provided on the ground floor creating a hub for the wider community of older people.
These include restaurant, hairdresser, chiropodist, coffee bar and a shop. Also incorporated in the building
is a Healthy Living Centre run by the Primary Care Trust and a care link office to receive calls from older
people using alarm equipment.
Lea Springs
‘Appropriate light levels
can promote normal
patterns of waking and
sleeping. Views of nature
and spending time
outdoors are essential to
wellbeing’
Kings Fund
Assesment Tool
An award winning Chartered Architecture practice
specialising in progressive design solutions that allow
people to live with dignity.
Archadia Architects:
- The distinct colour scheme and art work on each floor provides good orientation, signage and
wayfinding strategies give clarity to location of flats and communal spaces.
- Plan designed to maximise natural light in both flats and corridors
- Shop integrated in scheme works well for residents needs also gives people who struggle to go out a
sense of independence.
- There are a number of activities many run by a volunteer organisation called Lifelines that are for
residents and the wider community promoting inclusion.
- All staff on site are dementia trained and Hanover’s team also run a Dementia Friends service.
‘We could improve
wayfinding by using
symbols for each floor or
naming them’
Patching Lodge Staff
‘I think that the
building works for
people with all
different needs’
Patching Lodge
Resident
Key dementia friendly design features include;
- Fully accessible design with a welcoming and clearly defined approach.
- Communal areas allow for different types of engagement on a domestic scale with access to external
patio areas and garden.
- Flats designed to maximise natural light without glare, good sight lines inside the flats with accessible
bathroom accessed from hall and bedroom and visible from the bed.
- Colour scheme and wayfinding supports resident’s orientation, with alcoves and shelves provided for
personalising front doors.
- Seating areas provided for people to rest or stop in corridors with handrails designed to contrast.
Key dementia friendly design features include;
Key dementia friendly design features include;
- Circulation allows residents to walk independently in a safe environment and the loop on the ground floor
provides good access to communal spaces and courtyard garden.
- The entrance is well defined and the distinct bay features give it a recognisable typology.
- Courtyard design allows residents views into garden which is secure with seating areas and raised planters
encouraging use.
- Communal lounge at entrance is a domestic scale and its location encourages interaction with good sight lines
to the dining space and bathroom.
‘The folding doors in the
flats are really successful as
they give people an option
to have two rooms or open
plan, which can improve
sightlines for residents
with dementia. They are
lightweight and easy to use.’
Beechwood Court Staff
‘Lounge feels like
an extension of
the home’
Beechwood Court
staff
‘what more could
you want from a
home?’
Beechwood Court
Resident
‘Creating a Community Hub’
‘The flats
are very well
designed for
people with
mobility issues’
Lea Springs,
Resident
Flat plans at Lea Springs
Diagram representing
communal space at
Patching Lodge and
the link to the wider
community
Diagram representing different colour
schemes on floors
Plan showing circulation
external access
and views
Based in South West London, with projects including
Extra Care Housing, Residential Care and Special
Needs Facilities.