Aspen Cheung
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,University of Edinburgh
Aspen Cheung
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,University of Edinburgh
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Architectural Design: Explorations
Competition: Beyond Isolation: Senior Housing (Buildner)
Tutors: Jack Green, Ana Miret Garcia
In collaboration with Leia Wilson
Sep-Dec 2023
Seniors tend to isolate themselves as their health and mobility decline, but it might bring adverse effects as it may lead to depression and anxiety, and they might lose access to essential services. To tackle this issue, our proposal features a full floor of social programmes on the ground floor, which is also open to the general public. Alongside the resident-run businesses, this will prevent isolation of seniors within the estate, tackling the stigma against isolated care homes. This also aims to provide a sense of choice so the residents feel independent and productive.
Initial Ideation and Precedents
Draft Hand-drawn Sections
Final Design Scheme
Our strategy aims to destigmatize senior housing of its reputation of being isolated from the rest of the world, and to reduce the feeling of isolation from senior residents. Our main measures included arranging all social programmes on the ground floor which are also open to the public, and organising the apartments in a way where people of different demographics will be able to interact with each other. A sense of independence and choice are provided through the opporunities to run resident-run businesses within the estate and self-initiated workshops in rooms of various sizes, both along the site perimeter and within the large centre in the middle with the circular rooms.
First Floor Plan (1:500 at A2)
Apartment Typologies Strip (1:200 at A2)
Final Competition SpreadsShortlisted entry: https://architecturecompetitions.com/beyondisolation/