Good Evening Life

Background:

Life is a beautiful journey with challenges and opportunities of every kind and at every age. When we grow old, we are lonely and recollect all the memories that we have lost throughout our lives. Many are the lucky ones who live with their friends and family, but some are not, and they need a home where they are taken care of. They need a place where they can rejuvenate their souls, filled with joy and happiness. 'Good Evening Life' is such a place where old people who are above their 60s are taken care of. The site is in a busy neighbourhood of Manchester, UK, with all the supporting facilities in the nearby locality. The area is rich in cultural heritage, with beautifully designed buildings enhancing the rich architectural heritage of the UK.

Site Planning:

The entrance to the site is on the northwest side of the building on White Moss Road, with parking on the sides of the road and parking lots in the neighbourhood, which can be accessed by Lilstock Walk and Lindside Walk. The site was levelled flat before construction, so access to the building should be user-friendly for old people, and ramps are provided at the entrance. The compound walls have been kept dwarfed to reflect the character of the neighbourhood and to be in line with UK’s social culture of not segregating communities according to their economic and social status. This spirit is also reflected in the design of the building by way of different types of rooms that include dormitories. The site is divided into three parts and is arranged with building blocks connected with indoor lounge areas open to both sides of the internal courtyards.

Architectural Planning and Designing:

Designing an old-age home in this neighbourhood thus demands careful use of building elements, materials, and a design approach that would suit Manchester City’s architectural heritage. The design has three blocks connected by an indoor lounge area, which serves as an indoor recreation facility on both floors. This space is located centrally in the design and acts as a congregation area for the residents. The residents spend most of their time doing various activities at the facility, which includes a dining area, a community hall, indoor games like chess, carom, cards, and billiards, daily activity areas, and outdoor recreation areas. Therefore, these facilities are provided on the ground floor. The administrative block, staff quarters, outpatient department, emergency ward, and common toilets separate for men and women are also provided on the ground floor for ease of circulation in the building. On the first floor, all three blocks have residential facilities that include various room types, such as single rooms, twin rooms, couple’s rooms, and dormitories. Their rooms have an attached toilet with all the required supporting railings, bars, and facilities to manoeuvre the wheelchair. Each block has a nurse’s station for any emergencies or any requirements during the night for the residents. Like the ground floor, an indoor lounge area connects all three blocks and acts as a congregation area. Both floors are connected to each other with a staircase in each block and four lifts that can carry a wheelchair with sufficient capacity for vertical circulation.

Construction Details:

The ground floor is recessed 300mm deeper than the first floor and has a plain white colour with windows that touch the plinth level, which is 150mm above the ground. The first floor has exposed brickwork with a hip roof on top. The overall height of the building is 6000 mm. The first-floor walls drop down to the lintel level of the ground floor, thus giving an elegant look that respects the architectural heritage around the neighbourhood and has its own individuality. The structure of the building has a wall with an overall thickness of 300 mm and a cavity for thermal insulation that helps keep the building warm in the cold climate of the UK.

Amenities and Facilities:

The design of 'Good Evening Life' is a simple yet intelligent integration of free-flowing indoor and outdoor spaces for recreation, relaxation, and amenities that benefit the physical and mental well-being of old people living in the facility. Indoor amenities like a dining hall attached to the kitchen, a vegetarian and non-vegetarian store, a community hall, indoor games, and activity areas are the main attractions of this facility. Staff rooms with attached toilets and storage areas and common toilets for men and women are some of the other basic amenities. The activity areas include space for different types of therapies, like pet therapy, and different types of games to improve mental health and treat mental conditions like dementia in old people. The activity areas are also used for family visits, especially for their children and grandchildren. These spaces, along with indoor lounges, which are located centrally in the building, become the fulcrum of design. Along with these emergency medical facilities, outpatient departments with sufficient waiting areas also exist. All these amenities and facilities are on the ground floor because the residents will spend most of their time here. Furthermore, administrative facilities such as accounts, councillor’s rooms, record storage facilities, a manager's room, and an administrator's room are provided on the ground floor. The UK’s weather is most unpredictable, and it can rain anytime. Therefore, the outdoor facilities are provided in such a way that they have easy access to the indoor areas with appropriate ramps and wide openings. The outdoor recreational facilities include space for gardening, yoga, meditation, and a gentle walk.