The Village Langley
The Village Langley in Canada pioneers the 'dementia village' concept, accommodating 75 residents on a 7-acre site. Departing from traditional dementia care facility, it resembles a micro village with outdoor paths replacing indoor corridors. Interior spaces, now transformed into destinations such as a café, store, salon, workshop, and community area, that residents can go out and about to. The environment is designed to provide a continuum to residents' everyday rhythm, so that they can maintain a sense of autonomy and purpose.
(Project designed by Eitaro Hirota while at NSDA)
The households are arranged in cottage-like structures grouped around a central clearing that serves as the shared space. These cottage forms break down the lengthy and broad footprint of conventional senior care wings, resulting in a more human-scaled and visually appealing architectural composition.
Every household has a front door that leads to the village grounds, offering residents unrestricted access. Enabling residents to step outside and move independently, yet be able to look back and identify their home, was the project's most intricate design challenge. This feature empowers residents to connect with their home's essence, trace their origins, and exercise autonomy in crafting their daily routines.
We crafted the spaces for seamless indoor-outdoor interaction, using well-placed glazed openings and skylights to invite sunlight to flow through and animate the interior. This design not only visually connects the indoors and outdoors but also provides a tangible sense of the passage of time throughout the day and across the seasons.
The village farm establishes a link to the farming culture in the nearby neighbourhood, extending an invitation to individuals from the local farming community to engage in village life. This interaction enriches the residents' sense of daily life within the village environment.
The Village Langley
Langley, BC
Location
Senior Living/Care
Industry
Verve Senior Living
2019
Year
Client