Dementia Art Academy

Abstract

The Dementia Art Academy is an integral part of the expansion of the TU Delft and is situated next to the new Delft Campus train station on Tanthofdreef. The design serves as a cultural hub for the neighborhood where various art forms, students, artists, but above all, individuals with dementia come together within one building. The design stands out as a pioneer in contemporary dementia care. The academy offers respite care, including guest rooms for individuals with dementia, providing temporary relief for caregivers at home, ultimately enabling those with dementia to remain living at home longer. Its design pushes the boundaries of dementia care by adopting a fresh approach in its architectural layout. Throughout the day, individuals are free to roam the grounds and move wherever they please, without constraints on their freedom in the form of fences or locks. The design facilitates this concept with the use of rounded shapes in its interior and exterior, guiding the way and minimizing the risk of getting lost. The building provides a warm inner world contrasted against a harsh outside world, encouraging its visitors to linger within the complex and is distinguished by its recognizable red color, making it easily recognizable in its urban setting. The academy features an auditorium, dance studios, music rooms, lecture halls, an exhibition space, and a cinema. Shared artistic facilities, including art forms like visual arts, music, dance, and gardening, where the guests can participate in daily activities, are spread across the ground floor and 1st floor. Through a long organic corridor traversing the building, the various art forms are interconnected, with art serving as a guiding (red) thread throughout the structure. The complex is characterized by a green inner courtyard featuring a centrally covered stage, vegetable gardens, a terrace, and various organic pathways.The academy encourages independance, autonomy and improves the overall well-being of people suffering from dementia. It is a place where individuals with dementia are integrated into society and treated as ordinary people, where students and individuals with dementia can learn from and with each other.