HEISEI RESIDENCE

SENIOR HOUSING

1881 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109

STACKING STONES

PROGRAM

The program is to design a senior housing for non-profit organization. The housing will be an affordable housing for low-income senior. The housing will have 8 apartment units, Fitness center, restaurant, onsite medical support, and library. 

CONCEPT

The concept for this project is stacking of stone. The art of stacking of stone is a form of worshipping. The stones are natural elements and reflect the balance between man-made structures and natures. A metaphor for meditation and tranquility. In Interior design, the stacking of stones reflects balance, harmony, and serenity while in a Japanese garden, each stone represents different aspect such as earth, fire, mind and body, wood, and metal. Together, they represent harmony and soul.  

Many seniors refuse to live in assisted living facilities because the care from facilities is not caring. Some Seniors even refuse to move from their own home because they think in senior housing have no privacy and they feel like they were not one of the "old people". The life of senior is very unbalanced between finding quality life and place to age. 

The idea of stacking of stones serves as an aid to meditation about the true meaning of life and as a representation that senior housing should give a quality life to its residents and give them a peaceful and balanced life. The goal is to provide the elderly with sanctuary and sense of normalcy and they should feel as though the housing amenities are parts of their home. 

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

The design will reinforce the concept of healing and life balance, featuring simple and clean lines, lighter and warmer earthy color to bring out a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere as if the residents are in the sanctuary; a soothing and tranquil place of respite from the rush and emotional demands of outside world. Space will also have a touch of plants or greenery. The goal is to bring the outside to inside the space and create a balance and harmony within the space.

The concept applied to the floor plan by giving a balance between the everything. The apartment units should face the outdoor scenery not just because it is more peaceful and quiet but also has more quality view. So the 8 apartment units are separated by 4 units on the 1st floor and 4 units on the 2nd floor. The apartment units are separated by an indoor atrium that is open to the roof garden giving natural light to the center of the space. The apartments on the 1st floor have its individual access to the outdoor space serving as a retreat area. The community room is on the 2nd floor accessible through the elevator. The elevator will be put near the lobby for security reason. 

The concept of stacking stones also applied to the pattern of the finishe and furniture selections. Choosing both furniture and finishes that has circular pattern. 

The color palette for this project is color that brings more energy to the resident instead of using too neutral palette which could make the resident not wanting to be active.