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Elderly Housing Project

This project looks at specifically designing homes for the elderly in Cathays, Cardiff. A key aspect of this project is to not simply deliver homes, but have a distinct character / sense of place, and contribute to the sense of community within the neighbourhood. 

THE MARKETPLACE

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RESIDENT COURTYARD

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COMMUNITY PARK

FOSTERING A COMMUNITY

The site sits ideally between Minny Street and May Street, creating a natural connection between the two and offering an opportunity to establish a vibrant hub for community engagement. This space fosters social interaction, bringing together residents of the elderly home and helping to reduce loneliness.

The courtyard serves three key purposes: a bustling marketplace, a serene public park, and a dedicated space for residents to gather and enjoy. Designed with flexibility in mind, this space invites residents to connect with their neighbours and participate in local events, including our lively weekly or bi-weekly marketplace.

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Ground Floor Plan 1:200 @ A3

First Floor Plan 1:200 @ A3

LIGHTING AND CIRCULATION

The first floor and ground floor each had different dwelling types to meet different criteria its location posed. The circulation on the ground floor flows via the front of the dwelling, whereas the circulation on the first floor flows via the back. This meant the arrangement of the two different sized dwelling would be rearranged in a mirrored manner.  

This mirrored layout of each dwelling played into the concept of the  ground floor dwellings making the bedroom and private areas secluded in a ‘cave-like’ manner with skylights and the first floor dwellings being held up and away from the public, being more free and open and hence their bedrooms opening onto the balcony facing the courtyard.

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Roof Plan 1:200 @ A3

The stacking of the two storeys allows for space for skylights  to allow light into the  ground floor bedrooms. As the bedrooms are pushed to the back of the dwelling for privacy , without the skylights the room wouldn’t have access to natural light and not make the space an inviting area for people to ‘nest’ in.

TECHNOLOGY AND DETAILS

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SKYLIGHT DETAIL 1:5 @ A4

  1. Powder coat finished aluminium framed skylight roof with insulated double glazing

  2. Rigid metal flashing

  3. Mechanically fixed peel stop

  4. Single membrane hot weld bonded roof edge curb finish

  5. Adhesive bonded roof finish

  6. Polyester underlay fleece

  7. Vapour control barrier

  8. Tapered edge Rigid PIR Insulation

  9. 18mm external grade marine plywood board

  10. Flexible mineral insulation (For the ventilated roof applied in-between rafters)

  11. Intumescent paint treated steel structural beam

  12. 2x 12.5mm Plasterboard ceiling finished with 3mm skim and paint

  13. Render stop corner bead (To provide adequate corner treatment)

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North East Section 1:100 @ A3

Front East Elevation 1:100 @ A3

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