Carescape – Transforming lives through transformative architecture. Carescape is a blended typology designed to address the alarming social issue of homelessness in wom- en over 55 (Census, 2021). Carescape , accommodates residents according to individual requirements relating to privacy and security, cultural preferences and health needs. Each resident becomes an integral part of a life-sustaining community which does not stand alone as a typical “crisis heterotopia” (Foucault, 1984), but becomes embedded into the community and surrounding neighbourhoods, building dignity and self-reliance. This reimagined typology of the caringscape (Bowlby, 2012), ensures the roles of care-giver and care-receiver are fluid, rooting itself in Professor Joan Tronto’s four moral principles of care - attentiveness, responsibility, competence and responsiveness (1993). In a non-traditional approach the functional areas are not zoned, residences, treatment rooms, common spaces, and urgent care are located on all levels. Removing the possibility of residents being defined by the space they occupy, applying the idea of “intersectional praxis”, as defined as “levels of access to privilege”, as discussed by Rizvi (2016), and aiming to eliminate prejudice brought about by each person’s individual experience that has led them to the facility. At the heart of the facility is a circular ramp linking all three levels and capturing light from the original domed skylight. It protrudes from the building allowing a full height curved glass wall, extending the interior and connecting occupants to the landscape encouraging a dialogue between the internal and external spaces. Modular pods create the internal spaces, transitional zones and associated adjacencies and reflect the deviated grid. Walls, doorways and ceilings can be assembled in numerous configurations with differing finishes to ensure the future adaptability of the overall facility. A new bridge from Level 1 creates additional residential, crises care and a common gallery space. Residences on this bridge embody the principles of Privacy and Sense of Home as defined in Samantha Donnelly’s Design guide (2020). It is Donnelly’s Principle 9 – Sense of Home (2020), that resonates with the overall design of the facility. Carescape includes 16 self-contained residences; 5 crises care rooms; 3 consulting and 2 treatment rooms; conversation areas, private meeting spaces, common kitchen/dining area, movie room, gallery / exhibition space, and a sumptuous bathhouse with wellness area. Bathing has always been central to care and historically plays a key role in creating community, and Carescape would be deficient without such a space to connect back to our humanity. Natural materials of travertine, light timbers and glass with a natu- ral colour palette engender a calm and supportive environment of healing. The rammed earth curved walls of the bathhouse combined with saltwater baths connect the inhabitants to the earth in a safe, protective environment. Water has long been connected with healing and with women (Anderson, 2020). According to participants interviewed by Anderson, women are the “carriers of water”, and water is fundamental in “how we live on this earth”. To honour that, Carescape incorporates a water recycling system taking water from the bath- house and filtering it via waterfall feature at the front of the facility. Carescape aims to transform lives through transformative architecture, showcasing the reciprocal nature of care and design, where, according to Imrie and Kullman (2017), “design decisions reflect empathy and consideration for the needs and experiences of diverse users”.
Long section cutting through the main building showcasing the central ramp designed to connect all three floors and protrude through the wall allowing a full height glass wall to allow light to floor the environment. This protrusion enlarges the interior and encouragtes a dialogue between internal an external spaces
GROUND FLOOR: Pathways meander throughout the project into and around spaces. Water features exist across the site. Commercial space jutting out from the original building creates the link between the facility and the community. Ground floor includes commercial space, reception greeting gathering space, residences, crisis care rooms, communal dining and administration offices.
FIRST FLOOR: A new bridge linking the main building with the exterior buildings creates additional residential spaces and a gallery / meeting / exhibition space. A library, treatment/consulting rooms, public amenities and residences on this level.
SECOND FLOOR: Wellness and retreat level featuring luxurious bathhouse for healing and builidng of community. A safe place for healing, sharing, and sup- porting one another. Bathhouse has hot and cold pools, relaxation deck, steam room, showers and amenities.
KIT OF PARTS: Element create internal conversational spaces, treatment rooms and transition zones. Poles, walls, materials, ceilings can be configured depending upon intended use making the space as adapable as necessary
DIALOGUE: Celebrating the conversation between exterior and interior spaces; between residents and each other and residents with the local community.
COMMUNITY: Architecture as an active participant in the creation of a self sustaining community where knowledge and experiences are shared and dignity restored
Water has long been associated with healing and with women. To honour this a water recylcing system has been established and water from the bathhouse is recycled via a waterwall at the front of the building, cycling through ponds on the grounds and then returning back into grey water for toilets within the site.
CENTRALITY: Representing the heart, allowing the light in and providing the way to move care-receivers and care-givers forward, together.
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