SENIOR HOUSING Student: Supervisor:
Gjinovefa Xinxo Elvan Dajko
This research project deals with the topic of architecture for the elderly. Actually, in Albania there is a lack of attention to the necessities of this category of people in terms of accommodation facilities. These institutions have always been prejudiced in Albania and, as such, there are not good examples, which provide a good quality service. On the contrary, worldwide example shows the attention that is given to such structures in order to offer not only medical care, but also guarantee security and privacy, connection with nature, proximity to town, interaction with the community and internal socialization. Taking these hints as starting points, the home for the elderly was located in the interesting natural environment of Small Farka, in the surroundings area of Tirana. The project concept was developed in three phases. The first phase deals with the conclusions drawn from the research in terms of requirements that the | 304
elderly have for such institutions. Their need is a home care support design, the construction of each building as a real home not just a care facility. The internal house design and layouts require the flexibility of accommodating changing care or support needs. The whole scheme was seen as community assets which allow residents to mix with local people but also enable them to feel secure and have privacy at the same time. The second phase continues with the conclusions drawn from the existing models of senior houses in which the different shapes of elderly distributions are studied. Finally, the last model was chosen and further developed, one of the most successful in terms of functioning and orientation. The final project meets the functional requirement of an accommodation and healthcare structure, but also represents an architecture that facilitates socialization.