Lighting and ventilation
loss of vision, hearing, mobility and mental competence.
Sleep disturbance is one of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). It is common for people with ADRD to spend a third or more of the night awake, which results in an increased risk of falls and injury. However, clinical research shows that high levels of natural light can help correct the rest/activity cycles of people with ADRD by rebalancing their circadian rhythm.
Light and ventilation
Walker is a post-industrial community in the north west of England that has been the focus of a series of regeneration initiatives over the past 25 years. Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) decided to create Tree Top Village, a mixed use retirement village that is now the centre piece of the wider Walker Regeneration Programme. This area, which is part of Newcastle City Council’s Older People’s Housing Delivery Plan, is now referred to as Central Walker and includes a school, housing and retail facilities.
The Tree Top retirement village was originally conceived as the central part of a conventional ‘core and cluster’ arrangement. However, the initial master plan was torn up after Dr Hans Marcel Becker invited the design team and a YHN representative to the Humanitas Retirement Village in Rotterdam. Humanitas, which adopts a resident centred approach to the care of older people and maximises
Modular skylights offer all the benefits of having been fully prefabricated in a controlled factory environment
the use of natural light and ventilation, inspired the YHN representative and ultimately transformed the Central Walker master plan.
Becker’s mantra for a successful retirement village is ‘use it or lose it’; “Yes” is the default response from carers to help maximise the positive and minimise the negative and there are no care uniforms. This approach and his commitment to delivering an authentic village environment
with a host of hotel quality facilities, won over the design team. The village now provides 75 high quality affordable accommodation units exclusively for people aged over 55 or those with an assessed medical need. High levels of natural light and ventilation are the hallmarks of the village.
The average length of a hospital stay was shorter in areas with brighter daylight
The Tree Top retirement village was originally conceived as the central part of a conventional ‘core and cluster’ arrangement
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Designed by architect ID Partnership, the village is the first of its kind in the UK and is focussed on delaying the onset of dementia. The company took a lead from Becker’s philosophy, which culminated in the atrium being designed to include roof lights running the entire length to give it a contemporary hotel feel. It was felt that this encouraged residents to actively engage and participate and meant each apartment overlooks the main naturally lit thoroughfare, reinforcing the community feel. The atrium was fitted with 60 ridge lights and a further 10 long lights provide illumination away from the atrium. In combination, the ridge lights and long lights help residents feel as though the outside has been brought in. Aside from enhancing mood and wellbeing, the high levels of daylight are providing proven health benefits. Tree Top Village incorporates a reminiscence museum where there are familiar objects to help trigger memories for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. It also promotes conversation and provides a focal point for celebrating local history and culture.
The commercial team worked with
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • January 2019
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