My very first project of the year was a brief produced by the RSA as a competition entitled 'Modern Age'. The brief was as follows:
"Design a domestic product or living environment for older people that surpasses conventional expectations. Either design something to help a person growing older in the home they made and know (A), or design something for a purpose-built home for the elderly that evokes the qualities of a lived-in home (B)."
Although the brief was explained further for another 3 pages, these where to the only two options I had to choose from. I started to think about the stereotypical values that are giving to the elderly and the way in which they are perceived by everyone else. The usual thoughts cropped up; slow, decrepit, boring, useless, frail and so on. But why are the elderly all tarred with this same brush? Why do we not see them the same as the rest of us? After all they have been around longer than us, know more than us, have seen many things that only we can pray we never have to see (war) and we were once as young as us. Why do we not see them as young, trendy, sexy, smart and fun?
Many sketches and mind maps later, my initial research led me to a major thought/question. Why is it that when you are sitting talking to someone elderly e.g. your granny, why do they always speak about their childhood, all the fun they used to have, everything they got up to when they were young and reminisce on all those old memories? Why do they never speak of something fun and exciting they did last week?
Therefore, MEMORIES, would be the basis of my design. Creating a space that the elderly can call their own, where they can create new memories with family members or friends but where they can also reminisce and relish on the past memories they love so much.
Ideally this 'memory pod' would be created and designed to be positioned within the land of nursing homes. I have chosen to do this because of a visit to a local Dundee care home - Tullideph Nursing Home. Although this home was for those with severe dementia, the interior is as clinical and horrible as the rest. The areas that were private and supposedly personal for each individual where no more homely than the rest of the place. I came home feeling so sad and upset. it made me think all sorts and you truly don't know what is in front of you. How can being old could be this horrible? You have images and thoughts of how these places will look and smell but nothing prepares you for everything you are about to experience as you walk through those doors. This had a great effect on me and I decided I wanted to create a space that people living in a home could go to, make their own and get away from the horrible environment in which they have to live. A place that they are proud of, that feels like home and that give them some responsibility. I have decided that my design would be best suited for homes containing more able elderly rather than those with a specific disability. Therefore the option I have choose is (B).
