Abstract
There is broad agreement about what makes a well-designed environment for people living with dementia. The terms that are used and the way concepts and ideas are framed, however, can vary widely. This means that conversations can be at cross purposes and the applicability of design knowledge compromised. This paper presents a schema which places design principles at the heart of design practice. The schema organises key aspects of designing for people living with dementia across four key domains: overarching goals, design principles, design approaches, and design responses. Each domain has an increasing level of specificity and detail, and relates to the other domains which precede and follow it. Examples of environments are used to illustrate each domain and show how the domains are interrelated. There is a focus on the Fleming-Bennett design principles and the Zeisel approaches. A well-designed environment is essential if people living with dementia are to live well. The use of this schema will -provide a consistent framework for conversations and allow knowledge gained over many years to be embraced, -support a conversation which starts with goals and principles rather than solutions, -highlight how culture and context can be considered in any design response while still applying key design principles, -assist the knowledge that has been gained in well-resourced countries to be applied in less resourced settings, -encourage people living with dementia to be included in all aspects of the design process rather than simply at a project level.
Presenters
Kirsty Ann BennettArchitect FRAIA, Senior Architect, Allen Kong Architect, Victoria, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2022 Special Focus—Back to Life: Seeking Vision and Purpose in Principles and Practice
KEYWORDS
Principles, Dementia, Schema, Practice, Cross cultural, Knowledge application
