Spatial clues for orientation: Architetural design meets people with dementia.

Due to memory loss, persons with dementia suffer from disorientation in time, space and identity, causing profound feelings of anxiety and homelessness. To cope with this challenge, the physical environment is said to hold great potential. When designing environments for persons with dementia, however, architects and care organisations are faced with a lack of adequate knowledge. At the same time, it is hypothesized that the perspective of persons with dementia can provide architects with unique insights in how people feel in different settings. The project therefore investigates how the physical environment can afford or hinder a persons orientation in time-space-identity, by studying the lived experiences of persons with dementia through a combination of ethnographic techniques. Their perspective is complemented with the perspective of caregivers, architects, and persons without dementia. In this way, the project will identify what the roles of architecture to care for persons with dementia could be. At least as important, however, is the original way in which the project is expected to substantially advance our understanding of how the physical environment may act in comforting people.

Keywords:Space, Identity, Architectural design, Time, Orientation, Dementia, Ethnography

Disciplines:Architectural engineering, Architecture, Interior architecture, Architectural design, Art studies and sciences