Pavilions in the Woods

Abstract

With the strong influx of baby boomers now in hitting their elderly stage and advancements in medicine and health care, we as a population can now become much older. This huge increase of elderly require assistance and care, in such an amount we as a society can’t cope with. Fewer people need to take care of more. Elderly will now have to live longer on their own, while they're physically not able to. This modern development demands new forms of living that require specific solutions and interventions of which architecture can be of assistance with. This thesis will propose a unique living environment, both through an urban master-plan as in building level, while being projected onto existing structures situated in the former military production base of Hembrug.
The Kangaroo Housing concept should allow elderly to live longer on their own, by utilizing specific architectural instruments that break the physical barriers between neighboring residences. Visual relationships between the residences, created through strategic window openings, voids, level differents and other specific interventions, allow younger generations to gain a sense of private control over the elder, noticing when he or she has fallen down or had any accident. The more privacy that is sacrificed, the more security over the elder is gained.

Especially elderly, suffer from loneliness, fear or depression. These problems demand another solution from the transformation on a larger urban scale, in order to deal with the mental well-being of the individual. Therefore, the master-plan encourages the community to host communal activities and gatherings, both for the elderly as the younger generations. Together they will form a community, where people will focus on participation, hosting communal activities and help their elder neighbors. Whether it be small chores such as groceries or assistance with particular tasks, the younger generation will agree on participating in the community, having a slight responsibility for the elderly. As society brings more and more people in the world, we can only take care of less. This drives us into changing from an individual driven society to a community of solidarity, empathy, and compassion, where architecture can provide the basement for creating a bond between the individual.