INTERNATIONAL DESIGNS ON THE FUTURE OF CARE HOMES
Global interest in a student design competition is expected to generate ideas that will inspire the care homes of the future.
York- Based DWA Architects launched the Caring for Older People Competition for architectural students around the world in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA); with support from one of the UK’s largest care home operators, Bupa Care Services.
Chief executive, David Ward, says: “We launched the competition at the beginning of January and have been overwhelmed with the interest so far. Students from as far afield as Singapore, the United States, Albania, Germany and Hong Kong have registered their interest and we’re really looking
forward to seeing the entrants’ designs. Students who would like to enter still have time, but they need to register soon as entries close on 6 March.”
The competition aims to get young building designers to think creatively about meeting the needs of older people through care home design. The entrants are being asked to consider a number of issues including community integration, improving visitor numbers, energy conservation and the best layout for the patient; all of which helps improve quality of life for residents.
David Ward continues: “As the number of people over 90 years old grows year on year, society will need to adapt to accommodate the needs of this ageing population and the design and location of care homes is fundamental to this process.”
The competition will be judged by Professor June Andrews from the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University, Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, Lyth Watson, Bupa Care Services director of business development, and DWA Architects chief executive, David Ward and winners will be notified by 16 March 2009. An awards ceremony will be held at the RIBA HQ in London at the end of March 2009, where the winning designs will be exhibited until the end of April 2009.