Intergenerational encounters
Huset Nyvang is divided into three units – a ‘residential area’ with units for the nursing home residents, a service building, and finally an integrated daycare institution. The latter has room for around 130 children aged 0-5 years. The aim has been to ensure the highest possible degree of integration and enable social interaction and activity across generations. Central facilities such as the kitchen and an orangery have therefore been placed between the two units, and are open for traffic in both directions.
“It is most often the children who visit the elderly. Inside, they can meet in the orangery, for example, where the children can paint or engage in other activities. Outside, the children like to explore the paths between the residential units,” says Kristina Møller Hansen.
These meeting places allow the children to be creative and active, while the elderly can either join in or observe. The partially covered square is a good example of this. As is the adventure path that connects the residential units. Sensory gardens and orchards have been established, which are greatly enjoyed by both generations.
“The aim has been to create environments for living. The elderly may not actively participate, but they greatly enjoy being able to observe all the activity from a distance,” says Kristina Møller Hansen.
A playful design
A key aim has been to create a playful and varied architectural expression. The building twists in different directions, creating small pockets inside for activities like a ball pool and a mirror room. The kindergarten and nursery are connected by a passageway with differently themed rooms.
“Ceiling heights vary in the rooms, depending on how many people they are intended for. From the outside these architectural ‘buds’ together with windows at varying heights add further to the playful look,” says Kristina Møller Hansen.
Large window sections blur the traditional division between indoors and outdoors. As do the many covered patios which connect the daycare centre’s group rooms with the outdoor play areas.
Bright, modern and robust
Unlike the nursing home, which radiates homeliness and familiarity for the benefit not least of residents with dementia, there has been a focus in the daycare centre on creating a bright and modern look. The colourful linoleum floors are the only elements to break with the stylish design.
“There’s an old preconception that daycare institutions should look like a fun house. The children should be allowed to add their own touches to the rooms with drawings, paintings and other home-made creations. The walls and ceilings have therefore been kept simple and bright,” explains Kristina Møller Hansen.
Robustness has been an important parameter in the choice of materials, as the centre has to withstand the children’s everyday activities. All the materials are durable, while also contributing to a healthy indoor climate. Acoustic panels from Troldtekt have therefore been installed on the ceilings and on a number of walls in the daycare centre.
“Children are both noisy and highly active. This calls for rooms with good acoustics. The pale acoustic panels create an attractive uniformity throughout the institution – especially in the activity rooms, where they extend all the way to the floor. They also create a superior acoustic indoor climate that supports the children’s play,” says Kristina Møller Hansen.
