Market + Elderly

Elderly Community Renovation And Centre Market Design

Urban Planning and Architecture

2021, Dalian, Jilin Providence, China

Market buildings are holding potentials to become the center of a community, and even more potentials for an elderly community. Chinese old groups generally tend to shop in a market comparing to modern supermarket or malls, which results from their own memories through tens of years. What is even more exciting is the fact that the market sometimes even plays the role of the center of their social activities.

The project is part of a larger proposal, which is to create a community suiting needs of the elderly people. With a linear activity platform wandering in the middle, lots of construction and renovation are planned, including a new nursing home, several elderly apartments, new baths, youth apartments as well as a sport and art center.

Dalian

Modern SITE ANALYSIS Liaoning Province

Seaside

TIME BANK MODEL > > > PUBLIC SPACE YOUTHAPART-MENT NURSING MEDICAL BATH DAY CARE CANTEEN GYM RESI - DENCE APART - MENT MIXED APARTENT MARKET CHESSROOM HEALTHY ELDERLY YOUTH DISABLED ELDERLY TIME BANK SERVICE VOLUN-TARY VOLUNTARY EDUCATION

URBAN PLANNING A problem here is the height difference in this district. From southwest to eastwest, there is approximately 10-meter difference in the level, which causes breaks of space and difficulties of traffic inside the district.

In the new plan, a linear lifted platform is introduced to the area, connecting functions as well as the difference of height. More open space are created with the method, giving the elderly chances to breathe fresh air easily and also shortcuts from one building to another without disturbances of motor vehicle. Motor vehicle roads are hidden under the platform, where there locate collective parking lots and entrance to underground parking lots. Pedestrian and cars are mostly separated in this area, as well as tourists and locals.

> URBAN PLANNING

1

A new residential block will be constructed as a renovation of the existing residential buildings. Instead of disseminated community service, the public functions are assigned to the ground floor. Slopes happen a lot in this area to break the current boundaries caused by the level difference and encourage elderly people to hang out safely. Two courtyards solve the problem of levels and introduce plants and outdoor life.

2

The former old municipal plaza is a tourist spot with grandeur views of classical architecture. The new idea will be composed it into local daily life by making it connected to the main entrance to the central market of the community, as well as an important entrance to the whole living community. Events, festivals, and even performances will be allowed in this new image.

As a new center of community life, the central plaza will be lifted and connected to all important buildings including nursing service, residency, commercial space, and entertainment. The lifted platform reduces the inconvenience for elderly people to cross busy streets with tourists and vehicles and also attempts to create an island in this compressed block where the elderly people could enjoy the sunshine.

5

The idea of mixing young and old comes from a system proposal of a time bank, in which the young people will volunteer their time in the community in order to save their rent. Compared to the elderly groups, their space is more flexible, and limited, but economical. Such volunteer work will also save them future possible service when they might grow older in this community.

The triangle block with preserved old buildings will be renovated into a new center for entertainment and sports. There will be a walking trail around the building, a gate ball court in the middle, a gym, and even a gallery growing from the original ancient elevation. The block is also next to Beihai Park, which is the current site for outdoor exercise, and will be directly connected to the nursing home so even disabled people could come in a wheelchair.

6

In the middle of the site, a new nursing home will be constructed in the same space where the original nursing home locates. Compared to the old model, new ideas of a small community and nursing standards will apply. Three courtyards give more chances for windows, air flowing, and sunshine. Parking will be served on the ground floor under the platform so relatives could easily get into the space.

The Market is designed to be a future center of activities of the community, for both citizens and visitors. It is designed not only to be a daily destination for residents shopping everyday necessities, but also a new iconic building facing historical plaza. Two main blocks of the building, manipulated with variation of a simple unit of arch, cross each other, creating interesting space form. Block is equipped with functions for visitors, incluing a seafood market and cultural market selling specialties, a cafe on the top floor with the best view. Block II, on the contrary, contains daily activities of residents. They are not completely separate from each other but meet on the platform.

The Market is designed to be a future center of activities of the community, for both citizens and visitors. It is designed not only to be a daily destination for residents shopping everyday necessities, but also a new iconic building facing historical plaza. Two main blocks of the building, manipulated with variation of a simple unit of arch, cross each other, creating interesting space form.