On the Hembrug terrain one can find a variety of buildings and combination of buildings (ensembles). The Changing zone ensemble is located on the Hembrug terrain in Zaandam. The Hembrug terrain was the heart of the military industry in the Netherlands around the twentieth century. It is a very divers ensemble, with different buildings of different time periods, forms, shapes, colours and ways of detailing. However they are all adjacent to each other and in different ways interrelated.
The new program function and target group for the ensemble erupted from the social necessity to give home to fast growing group of elderly people with a physical care demand. This differs from the original function of the ensemble: industrial production place. The housing of elderly is a hot topic in the current societal discussion. New developments need to give an answer to the current demand of the rapidly double aging society.
Designing for elderly with a physical care demand, in general, means that everything is integral accessible, that there are no thresholds and that everything is wheelchair accessible. But there should also be some facilities nearby, like a hairdresser and a supermarket. On top of that, there is also a wish to make the entire Hembrug terrain social inclusive. In the design the readability of the complex is enhanced by adding an internal light street and by adding a new volume that strengthens the symmetry of the complex. Depending on the need of the elderly, there is a transition from private space to meeting space of which a resident can choose from, according to their own needs. A comfortable living environment for elderly with a physical care demand is created, while keeping the characteristic atmosphere of the ensemble. In the ensemble one area is created in which everything comes together, which is the heart of my ensemble and of Hembrug, the Cathedral. This building, a multifunctional place, is the most characteristic part of the design. Social inclusive Hembrug – Creating a community center for elderly with a physical care demand.