By Aage Myhre, editor-in-chief
aage.myhre@VilNews.com

A new concept for senior apartments, with focus on warmth, dignity and joy. Custom apartments around an outdoor, enclosed patio - plus a large, common 'lobby' for food, reading, music, good talks, therapy, training and more.

Some friends of mine have a large estate just north of Vilnius centre, about 20 minutes drive from the old town and less than five minutes from the Le Meridien Hotel, with its beautiful pool, spa complex, and a great new 18-hole golf course.

The plan they have under consideration right now is to build an elegant senior complex on the site, for potential buyers both in this country and from abroad.

Quality and service will be very high, still at prices one can hardly dream of the United States, Western Europe or Australia.

The planned complex will consist of around 50 apartments and a large public centre-building that can best be compared with an international hotel lobby.

In this 'lobby' one will be met by colorful life as soon as one enters. Dining room, restaurant, cafe, bar, library, piano music, as well as rooms for health, therapy, manicure and sports is that which meets the residents which shall dwell in this totally extraordinary senior complex.

Seniors who buy an apartment here, will in other words not just get a nice place to live, but a total package of food, drinks, activities, care and necessary health care measures in accordance with their own state. Nurses will always be present in the center, and doctors will come here on short notice.

Homes, institutions and facilities for the elderly are too often characterized by the fact that they are not very inspiring and warm. This concept goes in the opposite direction. Here the goal is to develop and build senior housing that helps to improve living, more activity, pleasure, warm and socializing with others.

The plans show a building with two wings perpendicular to each other. Each on two floors, with apartments on both sides of a wide corridor. The current example shows a building with 50 apartments in four sizes, about 45m2, 55m2, 70m2 and 80m2, plus a relatively large 'glass house' in the corner between the two residential wings. The ‘glass souse’ is the meeting point for joint activities, with dining room, café, bar, room for exercise, dance, music, body care, hair salon, a library and a small convenience store.

The outdoor area in the angle between the building wings planned as a green, beautiful atrium bounded by building wings and a garage number which is also built at an angle.

The apartments

All apartments are bright and cozy; with living room, bedroom, kitchen, large bathroom and spacious balconies. It is also done something as unusual as to have two balcony doors (one sliding door, one to open the plain), from the living room as well as from the bedroom, even for the smallest of the apartments. The idea is that fresh Lithuanian air, even on a winter day, and the ability to go out and experience the refreshing wind, rain, snow or sun, is life-giving and inspiring.

Apartments and common areas are all accessible for disabled people, including wheelchairs.

All apartments of assumed equipped with the latest in 'welfare technology' that make life easier and safer for people with various forms of assistance potentially needed from time to time.

Bright and cozy apartments with living room, bedroom, kitchen, large bathroom and spacious balconies.

The ’Glass House’

The corner between the residential wings is a prism-like oasis of a glass building that is open up between the floors. To gain an understanding of the impression one would get while coming in here, one should envision a large, bright, attractive lobby of an international hotel. As an open landscape with large green plants, deep chairs, café, newspapers, books, music, happy people in motion, some of the same feeling of exclusivity that you get when you enter a traditional hotel. Ceilings and walls are mainly of glass. The green and welcoming main entrance / porch has been added to the outer corner of the glass house. The inner corner of the ‘Glass House’ opens onto a wonderful green oasis, where a sculpture fountain forms the centre of a symmetrical patio with lots of green garden plants.

 The circular reception is the central point in the 'Glass House'.

KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM

In the ‘Glass House’, closest to the residential wings, are respectively the kitchen and the gym located, both of about 70 m2, with high ceilings (about 4 m) and space for ventilation and engineering controls at the top of the rooms. The kitchen has a separate entrance and door for deliveries from abroad. Vans can drive right up.

Beside the kitchen is the dining room of about 70 m2, with direct access from the kitchen. The dining hall's walls to the lobby area are made ​​flexible with regard to how much they would be opened or closed, so that it can also be made ​​part of the large, open lobby landscape (e.g. for major events). The dining room is furnished with round tables, which will contribute to the dignity of the dining. It is also easier to communicate at a round table. Square dining tables seem slightly canteen-or institution-like with reduced opportunities for communication within small groups.

The food offered will be tempting, modern and of good quality, both nutrition and taste-wise.       

The dining room is planned furnished with round tables, which one believes will contribute to dignity
and better opportunities for communication over a tasty meal. 

 

The food offered will be tempting, modern and of good quality
both nutrition and taste-wise.

THE BAR

A bar in the classic style with kitchenette, etc., is intended located at the other kitchen wall, towards and as a part of the open lobby landscape.

A good, classic bar is a natural part of the 'Glass House'.

THE LOBBY CAFE

Opposite the bar, towards the centre of the lobby's landscape, a green and attractive café with French café tables is located. This is probably the most attractive place to sit for a little bit of gossip… Witha glass of wine served from the bar.  

 

The French lobby café is the place for a cheese board with a good glass of wine
or a café au lait served from the bar. 

THE LOUNGE

The lounge is located on the other side of the 'corridor' in the centre of the lobby. Here are the deep chairs, a good place to sit with a whisky or a glass of cognac to play cards, chess, or to discuss. A black grand piano is for the use of residents who may know how to play, and also fro hired pianists from time to time...

Games, newspapers and silent fonts are in a fit right in 'corridor' between the elevator and reception.

The black grand piano in the lounge is to the enjoyment of residents who can play,
and for pianists hired from time to time ...

THE GLASS ELEVATOR

In the 'corridor behind the reception and the newspaper showcase, there is a glass elevator that goes up to the second floor, to a bridge that connects the wings on the second floor. The glass elevator will also indicate that you are in a luxury hotel. Behind the bridge there is also an open staircase up to 2 floor bridge.

A glass elevator goes up to the second floor, to a bridge that connects
the second-floor apartment in the two residential wings.

LIBRARY AND TEA CORNER

At the back of the lobby there is a library and tea corner, right next to the glass wall overlooking the atrium, the green grounds in the angle between the wings.

The library and the tea corner is meant for slightly slower pace, with a good book and a cup of afternoon tea while reading. Voice level here is lower, but the view out onto the green outdoors better.

The library and tea corner is meant for slightly slower pace, with a good book
and a cup of afternoon tea while reading.

CONVENIENCE STORE

Between the dining room and the main entrance, there will be a convenience store, mainly with glass walls. The store may well have entrance from both the lobby and from outside (external customers). A limited selection of groceries, beer / soft drinks, cigarettes, reading material, etc. should be provided. A 7-Eleven concept.

The tiny grocery store may well have entrance from both the lobby and from outside (external customers). A limited selection of groceries, beer / soft drinks, smoking, reading material, etc. should be provided. 

THE ’LOBBY’ WILL BE FLEXIBLE AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL

 
The lobby and the dining room may also well be used for many other activities.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND BODY CARE

To the right, when you have entered the main entrance, you will find a small room that focuses on health. A general practitioner and other health personnel will be here from time to time to offer simple examinations and consultations. The room also contains equipment and remedies for first aid, etc.

The next room is the division for body care. Here you can cut hair and nails. Hands and feet will be cared for, and in a separate enclosure, you can enjoy body massage and other forms of body therapy. This is also the location of various other therapies, all with a focus on the residents' bodies and wellbeing.

The hairdresser has an important job to do for both men and women. 

Body care in many different forms contributes to the feeling of well being. 

THE FITNESS CENTER

The fitness center, farthest from the entrance, is approximately 70 m2, with a ceiling height of about four meters. Here, various forms of physical activity take place during the day.

Outdoor area - atrium

The outdoor area is one green and relatively closed atrium, limited by the building's two wings and a garage row which is also built as an angle. People from outside cannot see in here. That gives a good sense of security and wellbeing.

The atrium garden is green and symmetrical. In the centre there is a fountain, with water gushing up from a classical sculpture, with a water mirror around. The benches in the circle outside the fountain are ready for leisurely reading newspapers, and more.

The area around the fountain is also suitable as a party space for grilling, outdoor café etc in the summer.

The green square textures surrounded by green hedge-like shrubs year-round with height up to one meter.

Symmetry is the dignity architecture. The sound and sight of water in motion has a good, relaxing effect. Here in the garden one can enjoy and experience the refreshing, life-giving weather almost all year round!

 
 

The atrium centerpiece, around the fountain, is suitable as a party space for grilling,
outdoor café etc in the summer. 

In the atrium outer edges, along the main building's exterior walls, one can walk and feel the
grass wedge between the toes. The feeling is amazing!

The pavilion and the garages 

The pavilion between the garage wings is suitable for handicrafts, music and more. 

In the corner, between the two rows of garages, we see another building with a glass roof, often used as a music pavilion and / or a room for billiards, table tennis, etc. Also various handicrafts can very well take place here in the pavilion. The ends of each wing of the garage are well suited sheds and storages.

The following sketch shows the proposed project for senior housing constructed in accordance with the above ideas and policies.

The project consists of two wings of apartments measuring approx 45m2, 55m2, 70m2 and 80 m2, plus a 'glass house' where dining & wining, activities, etc. will take place.

AREA PLAN

The buildings will be built around a rectangular green and closed atrium, limited by the building's two wings and a garage row which is also built as an angle. People from outside cannot see in here. That gives a good sense of security and wellbeing.

The atrium garden is green and symmetrical. In the centre there is a fountain, with water gushing up from a classical sculpture, with a water mirror around.