DEMENTIA DESIGN
ANN-KATHRIN SALICH – ARCHITECT, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT, BERLIN, GERMANY ERIC BERTEAU – HEALTHCARE MARKETING MANAGER, GERFLOR, FRANCE
Designing for dementia: beyond the evidence
Architect Ann-Kathrin Salich of Berlin – in collaboration with Gerflor healthcare marketing manager Eric Berteau – discusses the application of evidence-based design on the choice of colour and material in dementia environments.
As the global population ages, dementia is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, with the World Health Organization estimating that nearly 55 million people live with dementia worldwide – a figure projected to rise sharply in the coming decades.1
Dementia impacts memory,
perception, and spatial awareness, making everyday environments challenging to navigate and often distressing. Consequently, designing dementia- friendly spaces has emerged as a crucial field within healthcare architecture, aiming to create environments that support cognitive function, reduce anxiety, and foster a sense of comfort and safety.2 Unlike conventional healthcare settings, dementia care requires specialised design to meet these unique cognitive and sensory needs, which makes understanding and advancing dementia- friendly design a vital endeavour. Evidence-Based Design (EBD) has
gained prominence as an approach that applies scientific research to inform architectural and design decisions, particularly within healthcare settings. By grounding design choices in empirical evidence, EBD seeks to create environments that enhance functionality, safety, and overall wellbeing.3
It has had a
positive impact across various healthcare contexts, guiding choices in spatial layout, colour, lighting, and material selection to create spaces that are both practical and supportive.3,4
However,
EBD’s segmented, empirical structure – focusing on isolated recommendations – can sometimes miss the holistic, experiential quality of a well-designed space, which is especially important in settings that serve vulnerable populations.5
IFHE DIGEST 2025
Hewi LRV This article specifically examines EBD’s
role in dementia-friendly design, assessing its strengths and limitations in addressing the complex needs of dementia patients. By reviewing EBD’s key recommendations on colour and material, analysing how these elements meet the needs of dementia care environments, and drawing insights from broader architectural practices that prioritise sensory engagement, composition, and adaptability, this article offers a critical perspective on EBD’s application in
dementia care. Without proposing a singular solution, the discussion highlights how integrating a more cohesive, intention- driven perspective could complement EBD’s empirical foundation, leading to dementia care environments that are both functional and emotionally resonant.
Principles of EBD in
dementia-friendly architecture EBD research in the context of dementia environments seeks to uncover physical design aspects that can profoundly
Ann-Kathrin Salich
Ann-Kathrin Salich is a visionary architect with a strong focus on sustainable and user- centered design. Drawing on her experience at Nickl & Partner, a renowned firm in
healthcare architecture, she now leads her own practice, An(n) Architecture Solution. Her studio is dedicated to revitalising existing structures, transforming them into high- performing, user-friendly spaces that enhance wellbeing. Ann-Kathrin also serves as a lecturer at the Leibniz University of Hanover, where she teaches contemporary design principles and digital modeling techniques. Her passion for healthcare architecture is deeply rooted in her family’s medical background, inspiring her to create innovative,
holistic solutions that enhance both functionality and experience. Currently pursuing a PhD at TU Berlin, she bridges academic research and professional practice, applying cutting- edge insights to her studio’s projects.
Eric Berteau
Eric is a specialist in resilient flooring solutions for Healthcare construction projects. He has been working for two decades for GERFLOR in various positions all closely related to the healthcare market (product development, marketing, training, etc.). His
current mission is to develop international business in the highly demanding healthcare sector (hospitals, clinics, elderly homes, and mental health structures). Responding to clients’ needs with the right flooring solutions is one of Eric’s main motivations. He is
very keen to exchange ideas with healthcare end-users and designers when it comes to choosing the right products on a performance, aesthetic, and sustainable basis.
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