Carpe Diem Dementia Village
Open House Oslo
Norwegian. English subtitles available.
Carpe Diem is situated at Dønski, in the municipality of Bærum, just outside the capital of Oslo.
It is a new and innovative treatment and housing center for people suffering from dementia, also open to and offering facilities for the surrounding neighborhood. An increasingly important issue with the predicted ageing population is to achieve a better and more efficient care system for elderly people with dementia. Inspired by the De Hogeweyk dementia village in the Netherlands, the 18.000 m2 pilot project addresses these issues and provides a foundation for future dementia care in Norway.
Nordic – Office of Architecture have created a comprehensive architectural and aesthetic concept that provides the best possible quality of life for dementia residents. The buildings and outdoor spaces are designed to help residents increase their activity and master everyday life. Residents can walk freely throughout the facility without closed doors. The complex consists of two levels of care: 136 communal housing units and 22 high-care dementia units. Residents in the communal living areas enjoy their familiar domestic comforts and welcoming common areas such as cafes, community center, fitness facilities, a carpentry, beauty salon, an outdoor greenhouse and other amenities.
Carpe Diem Dementia Village is designed to feel like a recognisable home rather than an institution. Planned as a unified village, the residences, treatment center, and community center have a natural, blurred border and an open dialogue with the surrounding area. The common house and administration area, together with the main entrance, form a square with an urban expression. The residences were designed to create a homely atmosphere in a typical small house environment, enhanced with gardens and squares. The two-to-three story buildings are broken up into smaller units for a pleasant village feel.
People with dementia often have trouble recognising their surroundings and orienting themselves. It is therefore crucial that outdoor areas are perceived as clearly identifiable spaces. Various markers and easily recognisable elements are added throughout to ease wayfinding for the residents. Outdoor and indoor spaces, as well as all pathways and entrances, have also been developed according to inclusive design principles.
The overall design concept distinguishes between city and country. The square is surrounded by buildings of urban character and homes in green surroundings. This is emphasised externally in the choice of materials. The main material in all the facades is brick, which varies with two colour shades that give a bright and consistent impression. As a secondary material, untreated wood cladding and wooden arrows of ore pine are used to create variety and give a homely character. Throughout the facility, there is extensive use of long-lasting, maintenance-free, and robust materials.
Source: Nordic – Office of Architecture and ArchDaily
This film was made possible with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway, and is a part of a series of six short films, all about social, environmental and economic sustainability.