Design for Aging: International Case Studies of Building and Program (Wiley Series in Healthcare and Senior Living Design) [ハードカバー]

Although the intended audience for this book is primarily building and program designers,I found it also very useful for senior citizens and their adult children looking to find a suitable senior home for themselves and their aging parents, respectively. Of course, the choices are not limited to the example cases. The book does provide plenty of design and program ideas to look for in the search for a comfortable senior living environment.

The book is a compilation of 26 case studies spread among 7 countries (Australia, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the U.S.), all covered in about 280 pages.

Each case is discussed in detail (in categories of vernacular design, philosophy of care, community and belonging, care innovation, community involvement, human resources, environmental sustainability, and outdoor living.) and accompanied by pictures (mostly black and white, unfortunately), diagrams, and illustrations.

If the pictures can be presented in color, instead of black and white, it would be much easier to get an idea of the actual scene, especially the interior shots.

My mother is an Interior Designer who works with various facilities that are constantly changing and evolving with the times and she has really utilized the material in this manual.

She has found this book extremely helpful. It haves a great selection new perspectives and detailed information. It's a great book to have in your design library,specially for Health Care Designers.

"Communal living is the choice of very few people. This book is about designing the best possible building that maximizes privacy, choice and independence while making it easy for people's needs to be met." --- Mary Marshall, Professor Emeritus, University of Stirling (Scotland)

DESIGN FOR AGING, a compilation of case studies of architectural concepts and structures from such diverse cultures as Australia, Japan, The Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands as well as The UK and The US.

This book is primarily an academic discussion on the ways various cultures view the residential circumstances of its seniors.

The book consists of photographs of in and around the area of the facility. Architectural renderings, budget & construction costs, design philosophy ("philosophy of care") and the patient's financial responsibility.

The case studies are separated into categories by country or as the authors' designate, "schemes." But, the facilities, themselves, take center stage in each chapter.

I find that as I go through the book, each country and its home builders have many things in common with how things are done elsewhere. Take for instance, the minimal use of furniture or adornments in the common sleeping area.

The sleeping area seems to be universally consistent with a simple, unadorned twin beds lined across the room. The general philosophy, reminiscent of an army barracks, has a basic premise that precedes this set up and it has more to do with the proximity of fellow residents and the emotional and spiritual connection than any logistical or any economic considerations.

Another common design element amongst the hosting countries has to do with the relative anonymity of the facility. And, by this I mean, that designers and/or the authorities have created facades that fairly similar to the vast number of businesses or homes in the area.

**** Gojikara Mura Village (Japan) ****

Of the more than two dozen facilities featured here, the most intriguing and, arguably, the most beautiful is the Gojikara Mura Village in The Aichi Prefecture on the Honshu Island of Japan.

It is here that the concept of community takes on new meaning.

In what was originally a day care in this densely wooded area back in 1981, the original owner surmised that building a nursing home on the grounds would serve many benefits most of which would be a cooperative relationship between the elderly seniors and the children who would learn from them. In many cases, working parents need only to drop off their children to the same location that their elderly parents reside in.

But, there's a lot more to this community.

The vision expanded to include recreating the lifestyle experiences that the residents enjoyed before they became residents. To accomplish this, designers created homes that, at least on the outside, looked like a typical suburban home community. Eventually, the area became host to restaurants, stores and a nursing school. All of this, the objective met, was to bring young urban professionals who live near to actually work on the grounds.

The beautiful wood-theme structure is a sight to behold. Simply breathtaking.

*****

This book is not for the lay reader. It is for those who have an interest in architecture and despite too many of the pictures being in b/w, this book is phenomenal, plain and simple.

5 stars.