Name of the residential care centre
Koh-I-Noor Contemporary Aged Care
Company KPA Architects
Address 32 Pangbourne Street
Wembley
Contact Person Todd Paterson, Director of KPA Architects
Web site or audio-visual material
https://kpashare.egnyte.com/fl/TDUJm5pxIq
Vision
The design approach of Koh-I-Noor was to create a home for residents at a domestic scale. An informal, friendly, easily comprehended floor plan helps create a familiar homely ambience, which avoids the rigid and institutional nature typical of this building type. The 80 bedroom aged care home is split over two levels for residents, with a basement car park sunk below the street level. Each floor is broken up into wings with a secure dementia wing located on the ground floor. The dementia wing has large corridors and open communal areas which reveal attractive internalised courtyards
and garden spaces. The courtyards provide shaded areas for socialising, napping, games and activities, whilst the garden space provides an area for gardening and a place where the residents can feel part of the broader community and yet still be secure.
Refer to additional information for extended vision.
How well does the design of the building support this vision: self-report
Extremely well.
What are the most important elements in design
z Unobtrusive safety
z Spaces that are of a domestic scale
z Good lines of sight to help people living with dementia to see the key places they want to go to z Good lines of sight for supervision of people living
with dementia
z Easily seen wayfinding cues
z Easily found and unobstructed access to a garden, courtyard or outside space
z Opportunities to bring in personal items z Provision of places that are shared with the
surrounding community
z Being designed with a specific vision of how people living with dementia should be supported
Plan
100 DESIGN DIGNITY DEMENTIA – RESIDENTIAl CARE CENTRES
An example of the wayfinding scheme found within the dementia wing and throughout the building. KPA created and designed custom imagery artwork, each responding to its themed wing, to help residents identify where they are in the building and to help find their way around. The wayfinding and artwork provide a connection through imagery, which is
meaningful and reminiscent to residents. This is evident in the internal activity and common areas which are highlighted through colours, patterns, images and shapes from the natural park land surroundings and historical urban development sites.
The internal courtyard is visible and accessed from communal areas and creates a constant connection to nature, providing a place for socialising, resting, games and activities.
With family and/or staff supervision, residents can venture to the large upper deck, a favourite of the aged care home. The upper deck faces the street and allows residents to spend time in either sun or shade, at the treetops with a view to watch the action in the street and feel connected to the neighbourhood, whilst being safe and secure.
Bedrooms have large windows, flooding the rooms with natural light and ventilation, views to nature and landscaping. The soft interior colour palette and natural materials of timber create the feel of a warm home, not a clinical facility. Residents are allowed to bring their own furniture, photos and mementos to enable them to make their bedroom their home and a familiar, safe space.
Overview
Koh-I-Noor Contemporary Aged Care is a freestanding facility opening in 2018. It was designed as a residential care centre for people living with dementia, and is used by some with dementia. The centre accommodates 50–99 residents.
Hazards such as uneven surfaces, steps and highly polished floors are extremely well avoided in internal and external areas within the centre. Other safety features such as fences and other barriers to movement are noticeable, remaining somewhat obvious.
Both staff and residents can very easily see each other from where they spend most of their time and residents are able very easily see all they need such as the garden, sitting areas, toilet or activity zones.
A lot of attention has been focussed on the reduction of noise levels and clutter within the centre, as has the camouflaging of doors that residents are discouraged from entering. Additionally, helpful stimuli such as the use of colour, contrast and lighting has received a lot of emphasis to aid usage by residents e.g. finding the toilet door.
Residents are able to walk back and forth between the inside and outside areas with very clear and unobstructed routes to the outside spaces.
There are objects and activities for engagement as residents move around with a lot of emphasis on their provision. Greater attention has been paid to developing engagement destinations at the end of corridors.
The style of furniture is very familiar with a few decorations, ornaments and artworks that are also familiar to residents. Residents are encouraged to bring in familiar objects of their own.
Residents have the opportunity to select a few places to be alone, or alternatively many places to enjoy the company of a small group.
Additional information
VISIoN CoNTINuED…
With family and/or staff supervision, dementia residents can venture to other parts of the building, including the large upper deck, which is a favourite of the residents.
The upper deck faces the street which allows residents to spend time at the treetops with a view to watch the action in the street and feel connected to the neighbourhood. The wayfinding scheme and colour palette is themed from the colours of local lakes and nature parks, such as Lake Monger and Kings Park. It is integral to the design of the dementia wing and to the greater Koh-I-Noor, as it provides a welcoming familiarity to those making the transition to their new home. Custom imagery artwork responds to its themed wing, to help residents identify where they are in the building and to help find their way around if they are disorientated.
102 DESIGN DIGNITY DEMENTIA – RESIDENTIAl CARE CENTRES