Yan Chai Jockey Club Care and Attention Home is a self-financing care home with several unique selling .propositions in the nursing home market. To name but a few, satisfactory hygienic environment, resources to enable each resident to take shower at least once per day and proximity to hospital for medical treatment.

 

However, its design is based on the concerns decades ago when only practicability and functionality were covered. In order to catch up with international standards, technological development, change of lifestyle of future elderly and to increase market competitiveness, “The White House” design project takes a futuristic attempt to revolutionize the perception of elderly needs and maximize spatial efficiency.

Cooperated by a team of designers from multiple disciplines, this proposal suggests improvements through interior and environment, product, communication and the use of technology. The typical impression of cold hospital corridors is replaced with a cozy and spacious common area when you first step in the nursing home. Typical bedrooms are replaced with private units (Sensory Hut) and community modules (Interactive
Household) to fit privacy, health and interaction needs. The whole environment is recoloured in elderly residents’ favourite colours while better meeting safety and therapeutic needs. Technology is fully utilized to facilitate various interaction, fulfill entertainment needs and ease staff workload in accordance to the predicted lifestyle of future elderly.

With understanding and research exclusively for Hong Kong elderly’s cultural background and characteristics, insights and ideas from this proposal may also inspire and contribute to the future development of Hong Kong care home design and the industry