The apartment is located eindhoven, netherland provided was designed during perod 2003 – 2006 and then be realization at range 2007 – 2011 282 apartments of which 83 are for seniors and 121 are care homes, a wellness center with medical facilities and pharmacy, a multifunctional center / community school with primary school, child care, youth care, health centers, neighborhood shops, play facilities, a gymnasium and neighbourhood services of 3,500 m2, 3,000 m2 retail and car parks

Designer write that, In 2003, Mecanoo won the ‘Doornakkers’ design competition for a new urban town center plan. Also included in the project are more than 80 senior apartments and approximately 120 care residences which are located above a wellness center, a neighbourhood school, a shopping center and parking garages. The master plan creates a new heart for the Doornakkers district and forms a connecting link with the existing adjacent residential area. The premise of Mecanoo’s plan was to keep the area as green with nature as possible and to promote consistency in the relationship between the residents and local social amenities.

The existing Tongelre nursing home has been extended with 28 three- and 93 two-bedroom apartments. The residents can choose whether or not to use the care provided. The luxury care units are fully equipped, taking into account the age of the residents. All properties have an indoor sheltered loggia. Scooters can either be parked in the home or in the garage underneath the building. The nursing home has a new main lobby and is physically connected to the existing care complex through new corridor decked with a mossedum roof. On the ground floor, communal facilities such as a pharmacy and a health center can be found. The apartments are grouped around three courtyards on every level.

The 83 senior apartments are within 3 4-story buildings which share the central square yet also front a more quiet green area to the other side. By their perpendicular placement on the square, the buildings allow beautiful, see-throughs from the square and from the green area on the southern side. The half-sunken parking garage is underneath a wooden deck between the residential blocks crating a safe roof terrace for senior residents that is 1.5 meters higher than the central square. Without any kind of vehicular traffic on the quiet roof terrace, relaxed seating could be created along with small gardens and light recreation. A perfect spot for a senior. The two most outer blocks are accessed at the plaza level while access to the middle block is via a ramp on the terrace. Within each apartment block, apartments are comfortably accessed via a heated indoor middle corridor which also promotes social contact among residents. Each apartment has private outdoor space and of course the common outdoor space on the roof terrace. If in the future these residents require more care, they can move to the nearby nursing home.

The two and three bedroom apartments for seniors and residents of the nursing home are quite large at 72 or 82 m2 of living space. The facades of the apartments are much wider than their depths and are therefore more storngly connected with the world outside. Residents can sit outside while remaining dry, or in the shade or out of the wind. The size and layout of the apartments are suitable for wheelchair users.

photo and articles credit to mecanoo

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