The Folds

Project idea

Inspired by aging process and embracing change this elderly home was designed to simulate the wrinkles that form on our skin as we grow, the four strips of raw concrete gradually move from the highest point in elevation to softly dive into the ground. This diving was a metaphor of death, and end of a cycle or maybe a beginning of another.
The movement is a symbol of change, a cracking skin that lets the light in as green/live grows in between (green roofs as a result of movement in every strip).
The design is a celebration of old age and an embrace of change, The folds and the light passing in between created very well let interiors and provide enough sunshine for the internal garden, it is in one way or another similar to journey of humans that move slowly towards enlightenment and eventually the ultimate change(death).
Throughout all the design stages principals of Biophilic design were adopted to a certain extent, starting with the leveling of the project to create the best views towards the naturally neighboring stream moving through the orientation of the building and the type of materials used, and all the way to the walk-able sloped roofs as part of the park and the roof gardens as part of the elderly home.

Project description

The location in Budapest right beside the passing stream towards the Danube was selected to create an elderly home project, somewhere to include the senior citizens into the surrounding community, the first idea was a park for the public and an elderly home the can host some community activities on the ground floor level, as the public park would create and attraction point right next to the stream and if we choose the right plants it will also make an attraction point for other forms of life like either invite the already rarely visiting ducks to stay around for longer or butterflies in spring and other types of birds.
Having a wonderful public park was not enough because our elderly sometimes appreciate privacy over socializing and that’s why the green roofs and private gardens were created they can host yoga mornings or stretching afternoons or simply a nice book read and some peace.
On the ground floor the Gym and library alongside with a café were placed closer to the park side, serving as a social platform and another mean of financial support for the home, the lobby with some offices and meeting rooms were placed on the other side of the plan giving them more privacy, as the kitchen was placed in a more remote area with private entrance and stores, the kitchen is serving the dining area which overlooks the park again with its’ own private garden.
The strips helped in creating this multiple access that is controlled by private gardens on the ground floor.
Nurse station, a clinic and few rooms for seniors in need of medical attention are placed on the ground floor as well, with some service rooms and storage spaces.

The lobby of the ground floor had an interior garden that can be viewed from 1st 2nd and 3rd floor, the focus was to let green into the building not only through the views, but literally let in as part of the design.
The first floor has the rooms of the seniors with a living area a nurse station and two roof gardens.
The second floor has more rooms with a more private garden.
The third floor has no rooms, only a small lobby and access to the highest viewpoint at (11.40 m).

Technical information

Parking was designed under-ground with a private entrance away from the park with Parking capacity: 32 cars, Vertical circulation to floors is the main left and staircase straight to the lobby on ground floor, security card-access card must be used to access more private floors.
Level: -3.00 m
Clear height: 2.70 m
Rooms for MEP and control.
Part of the parking plan is 11 parking spots
right in front of the main entrance to the building, providing easy access for users in rush or with disabilities.
The material used to make the folded slabs is reinforced concrete with thickness of (50 cm) the layering of the slab is shown in sections as it is different for a slab that functions as a green roof and a slab that functions as a normal roof. Kindly refer to detailed drawings at the end of uploaded files.
Interior materials are shown in (1:50) plans, some wood cladding for the walls in the lobby area and some for the ceiling as per drawings.

Documentation

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