Architecture
Sustainability considerations Designing care homes that truly support healthy ageing means specifying low emitting, natural, and repairable materials and engineering durable, easy to maintain buildings. The final piece of the puzzle is then to run them with minimal energy and carbon. European exemplars, such as the
Alzheimer’s Village in Dax and Sølund in Copenhagen are showing how to do this in practice. Wood wool acoustic panels are used to soften noise and deliver low emitting finishes, while familiar local palettes help to create calm environments that age well. Durability should also be viewed as part of the whole-building system. For example, accessible roofs, maintainable green infrastructure and rain gardens that enhance wellbeing while managing stormwater all contribute to the long term success of a project. Operational carbon can be cut with
a fabric-first approach, combined with renewable energy systems such as heat pumps, to ensure lower bills and more efficient heating and cooling.
Looking to the future The next frontier for care home design is considering how the spaces we build can better connect with the wider community. Rather than one-off, isolated spaces, this approach considers how care homes can form a central part of the local community. These ‘health and care campuses’ bring
together affordable housing, schools, GP surgeries, green spaces, and leisure and fitness facilities, alongside residential care. This model brings people together across generations that may rarely interact otherwise, and tackles loneliness, while making better use of space. It works for residents and local councils alike, as it enables authorities to meet rising demand even with limited land while reducing hospital admissions. It also helps to create communities that
people can grow old in without being cut off from the world around them. People could stay in familiar areas, close to family and facilities they use frequently, before moving into more supported environments when they need to, without losing their sense of independence or community. In many European countries, this type
of design is already the norm and has seen widespread success in supporting wellbeing- focused care. De Hogeweyk in Weesp, Netherlands, the original ‘dementia village’, comprises
27 small houses, each for six residents, set along real streets with a supermarket, café, theatre, and gardens, enabling everyday life with discreet, 24/7 care. Its core philosophy is to deinstitutionalise care, transform environments, and normalise daily routine Furuset Hageby in Oslo, Norway is a
contemporary dementia village for 112 residents, organised around public facing amenities, including a restaurant, shop, library and culture house, and a series of sensory courtyards with green roofs. The architecture is deliberately tuned for free movement, clear wayfinding, daylight and acoustic comfort, so life feels more like a familiar neighbourhood than an institution. This treats the care home as a community asset, designing welcoming, safe environments that invites neighbours in, lifting resident dignity and social connection. Sølund in Copenhagen, Denmark is
probably the most ambitious. Known as the ‘House of Generations’ it is Denmark’s largest care home project in development, now targeting completion in 2029, combining 360 care units, 150 youth homes, senior housing, and a daycare, all stitched together by public courtyards and a new lake front pocket park. The interiors and wayfinding are being coordinated to foster intergenerational communities and a welcoming, city integrated ground floor. With an ageing population, living in care
facilities will become an inevitable reality for many of us. With thoughtful design built in from the start, the next generation of care homes should no longer be viewed with apprehension, but as welcoming and comfortable homes where residents can comfortably live the final years of their lives with dignity and independence.n
References 1
https://content.knightfrank.com/research/ 336/documents/en/healthcare-development-
34
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com March 2026
opportunities-2025-12025.pdf
2
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/08/ nhs-supporting-record-numbers-of- people-living-with-dementia/?utm_ source=
chatgpt.com
3
https://www.careengland.org.uk/new- report-warns-of-sleep-gap-in-uk-care- homes-action-needed-to-protect-resident- wellbeing/
David Tibbs
David Tibbs is senior partner at ORA Architects, an award-winning practice based in Dunfermline, Scotland. With more than 30 years’ experience across housing, heritage, and public sector projects, he brings a collaborative, hands-on approach that combines technical expertise with a genuine focus on people and place. A Certified European Passivhaus Designer, David has led several pioneering low-energy projects in Scotland, including the UK’s first Passivhaus home for social rent. His work reflects a lasting commitment to sustainability and to finding the right balance between innovation and conservation.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43
