The nursing home for elderly ‘Eigenhaard’ in Zwanenburg, was used to be appointed for demolishment. After resistence from the local community ambitions changed. The wish of Woonzorg NL was to transform this place into a community centre for the neighbourhood. Apto Architects created a new program through collaborative sessions with its surrounding residents. The new space brings residents and neighbours together. For design we moved away from the typical healthcare institution. With limited financial resources and reusing of several valued items of the inhabitants, a valued place emerged.
Eigenhaard
A transition from assistive living facility for elderly to a community centre for the neighbourhood.
Unlock the institution
Location
Zwanenburg, Nederland
Client
Woonzorg NL
Size
800 sqm
Timing
2016
Collaborative sessions
In close collaboration with its inhabitants, the program and space where carefully crafted. We visually mapped over 30 hours of brainstorms and talks.
More followed
Eigen Haard is not a unique case on itselve. Due to Dutch governmental regulations and financial savings operatoring organisations in care were forced into focusing on more heavy classified care. This makes communal spaces getting mostly cancelled and focus shifted to make elderly living at home for as long as possible. Nevertheless these spaces have a vital role in creating crossover meetings between different generations in cities neighbourhoods or villages. For WoonzorgNL Apto Architects implemented this DNA into the care facility in Blokker, but also for ZGAO in Amsterdam East in the Open Hof.
Using all means necessary
By AR and VR tools we onboarded the local community.
