Earth Tone e Poppins
Design for Assisted Living Facilities
Description
The research project arose from reflecting on the increasing decline in birth rates, and the increase in the elderly population and the need to realize an improvement in the general living conditions of the over-65 population. It aimed to create a more ‘humane’ RSA stay environment that could positively influence people’s recovery process and, more generally, make the stay experience less stressful for the patient and his or her family members. Indeed, the reception of an elderly person in an RSA represents a difficult and often traumatic experience because it brings with it radical changes both from a practical and organizational point of view and from a psychological-relational one. The study started from a survey conducted on the Assisted Living Residences in the Salento area, through a campaign of surveys and questionnaires administered to residents, and then analyzed the elderly person’s behaviors in relation to the environment and his or her physical characteristics, in order to understand the potential ability of design to affect his or her physical and mental well-being. It was derived that the finishes and furnishings adopted in the RSAs are recurring in types and colors: light blue walls that evoke a hospital environment and create a cold and aseptic atmosphere; shared rooms without partitions and, therefore, lacking privacy, which create discomfort especially for the non-self-sufficient and during family visits. Finally, windows that are often small and have dark shutters that reduce natural lighting and views to the outside, causing a sense of oppression. The research led to the-design of a typical room for RSA, which enhances the needs and requirements of the user, called “Earth Tone” that includes the use of natural materials such as Ash Parquet and Oak Wood, which help reduce stress and promote a feeling of calm and tranquility, and colors in shades of Olive Green and Beige, which refer to the land. In addition, proper lighting was provided with a view of the outdoor environment, which, in the case of the presence of greenery can help reduce stress and promote a feeling of well-being. The redesign of the typical room was followed by that of a furniture element called “Poppins,” designed for shared rooms lacking privacy and to meet the need expressed by the elderly to be able to personalize their space. To address these two fundamental issues, the project envisioned a dividing element that draws inspiration from the pegboard concept, a perforated grid used to organize objects and accessories. This, offers multiple possibilities for hanging and organizing objects, customizing the space to one’s liking by moving the hooks to the desired position. This pegboard allows you to add a touch of individuality and familiarity to your shared living environment, creating a small, personalized privacy space that you can store and fill to your heart’s content, just like Mary Poppins’ magical purse.
