DEMENTIA DESIGN


Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals – spas now look like churches. In Sou Fujimoto’s House of Music in


Budapest the guiding intention was to evoke the experience of walking through a forest, encouraging visitors to engage with their surroundings dynamically and naturally. By incorporating golden, reflective surfaces and natural wood, Fujimoto created an environment that shifts with daylight, producing a sensory experience akin to sunlight filtering through trees. This intentional design invites exploration and sensory engagement, making each visit unique as light and shadow change throughout the day.17


Such attention to sensory


experience could inspire dementia care environments, where dynamic, nature- inspired spaces help residents feel more connected and at ease. These examples demonstrate the


potential of a knowledge-informed, intention-led approach in creating environments that resonate deeply with users. Rather than isolating design elements, this approach emphasises a holistic experience, integrating sensory, emotional, and functional qualities into a cohesive vision. By combining empirical insights with an empathetic understanding of user needs, architects can craft dementia-friendly spaces that support cognitive and physical functioning while enhancing emotional and sensory well-being.


Conclusion EBD provides a framework for creating dementia-friendly environments, supporting cognitive and physical needs through strategic use of colour, material, and spatial organisation. Yet, EBD’s segmented approach may lack the cohesive, human-centered aspects that imbue spaces with meaning. By integrating a knowledge-informed, intention-led approach, architects can create dementia care environments that go beyond functionality to offer warmth,


IFHE DIGEST 2025


familiarity, and emotional resonance. In dementia care, sensory engagement and emotional support are as vital as safety. Combining intention with empirical evidence allows architects to craft spaces that address the diverse needs of individuals with dementia, presenting a promising direction for future dementia care design.


References 1 World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Dementia. [www.who.int/news-room/fact- sheets/detail/dementia].


2 Day K, Carreon D, Stump C. The therapeutic design of environments for people with dementia: a review of the empirical research. Gerontologist 2000; 40 (4): 397-416.


3 Hamilton K, Watkins D. (2009). Evidence- Based Design for Multiple Building Types. Wiley. [www.wiley.com/en-us/Evidence+ Based+Design+for+Multiple+Building+ Types-p-9780470129340].


4 Lorusso LN, Bosch SJ. Impact of multisensory environments on behaviour for people with dementia: a systematic literature review. Gerontologist 2018; 58 (3), e168–e179.


5 Pallasmaa J. (2017). Care and Design – Bodies, Buildings, Cities. John Wiley & Sons, Oxford.


6 Marquardt G, Bueter K, Motzek T. Impact of the design of the built environment on people with dementia: an evidence-based review. HERD 2014; 8 (1): 127-57.


7 McKhann G, Drachman D, Folstein M, Katzman R, Price D, Stadlan E. Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: report of the NINCDS-ADRDA Work Group under the auspices of Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. Neurology 1984; 34 (7): 939-44


8 Büter K, Marquardt G. (2019). Handbuch und Planungshilfe: Demenzsensible Krankenhausbauten. DOM Publisher, Berlin.


9 Gerflor. (2024). DSDC-akkreditierte Bodenbeläge für gesundheitsfördernde Umgebungen. [www.gerflor.com/ professionals-products/flooring-application/ healthcare.html]


10 Cogné M, Auriacombe S, Vasa L et al. Are visual cues helpful for virtual spatial navigation and spatial memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease? Neuropsychology 2018; 32 (4): 385-400.


IFHE


11 Davis R, Weisbeck,C. Creating a supportive environment using cues for wayfinding in dementia. J Gerontol Nurs 2016; 42 (3): 36-44.


12 Ulrich RS. Effects of interior design on wellness: theory and recent scientific research. J Health Care Inter Des 1991; 3: 97-109.


13 Poirier G, Demers CMH, Potvin A. Experiencing wooden ambiences with nordic light: scale model comparative studies under real skies. BioResources 2017; 12: 1924-42.


14 Chaudhury H, Cooke HA, Cowie H, Razaghi L. The influence of the physical environment on residents with dementia in long-term care settings: a review of the empirical literature. Gerontologist 2018; 58 (5): e325-e337.


15 Zumthor P. Interview by Magali Robathan, CLAD Mag, published in CLADmag 2017 Issue 1. [www.cladglobal.com/architecture- design-features?codeid=31591&source= home&p=3].


16 Rowe M, Ahn H, Benito A, Stone H, Wilson A, Kairalla J. Injuries and unattended home exits in persons with dementia: a 12-month prospective study. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2010; 25 (1): 27-31.


17 Kincaid C, Peacock JR. The effect of a wall mural on decreasing four types of door- testing behaviors. J Appl Gerontol 2003; 22: 76-88.


18 Golembiewski JA. Salutogenic Architecture. The Handbook of Salutogenesis 2nd edn. Cham (CH): Springer; 2022. [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK584090].


19 Aalto A. Interview for Finnish Television, July 1977. In Alvar Aalto in His Own Words (1997). Otava Publishing Company Ltd, Helsinki.


20 Fujimoto S. (2023). Presentation at TU Berlin, July 13, 2023.


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