Architectural hybrids for living across the lifespan: lessons from dementia.

Abstract

The built environment is essential for well-being at old age. The theory of salutogenesis, focusing on health, rather than the disease itself, provides evidence that space contributes to health and well-being. This has influenced healthcare architecture through facilities designed to support well-being. So, increasingly healthcare facilities aim to look like hotels to improve user experience. This retains conceptual and usage gaps between hospitality and healthcare but supports cross-fertilization of best practice. This paper explores possibilities of synergies between healthcare facilities and hospitality industry. Appropriate services and well-being across the lifespan is the ultimate objective, and the physical environment is critical in that provision. Examining the architectural typology of the dementia village as case study, it explores healthcare–hospitality hybrids. Learning from both domains can contribute to silver economy while providing the aging population with enhanced environment. Aging population and stakeholders in this ecosystem can benefit from these synergies.