Laura
Greenwood
Creating a Socially Sustainable Living Community for Veterans
Project Background
YEAR: Fall 2020- First Year MFA
LENGTH: 3 WEEKS
PROGRAMS & SKILLS: Revit, Photoshop, Space Planning, Research, Communication, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking
LOCATION: Fredericksburg, Virginia
CONCEPT: "Connecting Roots"
PROJECT SIZE: 10,000 SF (Total Building: 20,000 SF, Residential Units (about 10,000 SF) not included in project scope)
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This project created the challenge of designing a socially sustainable living facility for U.S Veterans. To achieve this, the location was chosen based on Veteran population demographics, access to VA Clinics and other VA services, and the potential for social roots to be built. The solution focuses on creating spaces for social interaction, relationship building and skill building. COVID-19 influenced the design by creating a challenge in creating social spaces, while staying physically distant for the health and safety of the residents.
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The concept for Rappahannock Hero's Home is Connecting Roots, to drive the focus of creating a space where social connections can be made and strengthened. This home provides support for the residents, as it is a place for Veterans to recover, socialize, growth and sustain health, similar to how roots support trees. The driving, concept of roots, emphasizes the community this space serves, by designing spaces that promote engagement, inclusive activities, and social interaction between residents. The design supports their physical, mental, and social needs, providing them with necessary resources to recover from service and integrate back into everyday life.
While Rappahannock Hero's Home is a living facility, the design solution only focuses on the community areas, including multi-purpose spaces, a dining room, and an outdoor courtyard.
Key:
A. Lobby/Waiting Room
B. Mail-room
C. Building Manager’s Office
D. Manager. of Vet. Services Office
E. Work Room
F. Admin. Assistant Office
G. Head of Counseling Service
H. Social Area
I. Work Zone
J. Multipurpose Room #1
K. Community Kitchen
L. Dining Area
M. Family Restroom
N. Flexible Reading Room
O. Gender Neutral RR
P. Multipurpose Room #2
P-1. Storage Closet
Q. Equipment Room
R. Outdoor Dining
S. Community Garden
T. Lactation Room
U. Janitor’s Closet
V. Flex-Space
W. Creative Flex Space
X. Living Space (not in scope)
Click below to read more information on the location and supporting theories used in this design.
Design Features:
1. Glass windows are along this office wall to allow natural light in an invite residents to interact with staff.
2. The Head of Counseling Service Office is not along a window wall, because researched showed windows can cause stress for people with PTSD (common among veterans).
3. This indoor track encourages physical exercise, even during the cooler months.
4. The Flexible Reading Room acts as a flex space, and a small library. It includes a computer for residents to use.
5. Between Multipurpose Room #2 and the Equipment Room, there is a movable partition wall. This allows this space to become a small gym when it is not being used for other event or activities.
6. Two basketball hoops are located in the courtyard.
7. This flexible space opens onto the common corridor for greater flexibility and physical distancing.
8. The Creative Flex Space is meant to be used for various hands-on activities, not just group meetings.
* White dashed lines show where skylines are included.
The Lobby
When one walks into Rappahannock Hero’s Home they are greeted with a reception desk and the view of the courtyard with a backdrop of the Rappahannock River. For a contactless check in system, facial recognition stations are placed on the reception desk (seen in image). This device will take the visitors temperature and image to the generate a visitor's sticker. Behind the reception desk is a business work center. This space is separated from the main walkway by a planter. Plants are incorporated throughout the home to bring natural elements in, help reduce stress, and act as a barrier between seating spaces as an added layer of privacy.
This view also shows one of the Social Areas within the space. This zone encourages open communication between residents to build community connections. This social zone has a lowered ceiling feature to visually attract users. The lowered ceiling also increases a sense of intimacy. This feature includes slats to allow natural light from the windows above to continue to shine through.
Corridors
RESIDENTIAL UNIT FACADE ELEVATION (1)
The façade of the residential units is designed to welcome interaction, with the use of seating along the corridor, and magnetic boards where residents can pin up notices, pictures and leave notes for each other. While it promotes interaction, it also has room for individuality, so residents know they have a place of their own. This includes varied colors that units are associated with, as well as their military branch flag being displayed above their unit. Canopies and live-walls are used to signify where each unit is, and mimic exterior house features, like the roof and landscape.
FLEX-SPACE:
Flex-spaces are used for small group meetings or activities. In response to COVID-19, this flex space is designed to open onto the common corridor, to allow for greater physical distancing when needed. This is done through stacking window walls, that then fold along the inside wall of the space, to maximize sight-lines, auditory projections and connection between users within this space.
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This design feature can also be used when physical distancing is not needed, to encourage those passing by to join the group activity or discussion. This view shows the process of transitioning the space into part of the corridor.
Click below to see alternative layouts for various spaces in Rappahannock Hero's Home
Community Dining Area
This room is a place where people come together. The Community Dining Area provides users with multiple seating options. It is designed with the kitchen opening onto it, so community members can engage in conversation with each other while they prepare their food and eat. Large windows are used through this space to invite residents inside to participate in social activities. This view shows the interaction between the kitchen and dining area, as well as the indoor track along the corridor.
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Acoustical panels are used on the wall to absorb sound. Other materials in this space include a vinyl upholstery on the booths, for easy cleaning. Open upper shelves were chosen because research showed that closed storages spaces can trigger stress, this stems from not knowing what is behind the enclosed casing. For the same reason, the base cabinet doors are glass.
Courtyard
This Veterans Home provides residents with options of activities to partake in. In the courtyard, multiple of these activities are available. The courtyard includes a covered outdoor dining space, providing residents with an additional seating options to choose from, and more seating to accommodate for physically distancing when needed. This area also acts a place for residents to gather and engage in conversation while enjoying the outdoors.
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A fireplace is located near the garden. This feature also encourages interaction, by providing a central place for users to gather around. In the center of the courtyard are two basketball hoops. While this is not a full basketball court, this activity allows community members to bond, as well as build physical strength. This activity can double as community strength building and physical therapy and rehab for those recovering from injuries.
The final part to the courtyard is the Community Garden. Here residents can care for plants, vegetables and fruits together. This acts as a positive distraction, by providing a way for community engagement and motor skills buildings, but in a discrete way. The garden can also be used to grow food for the home, making it sustainable in environmental, economic, and social aspects. Beyond the garden is the river. The back section of the courtyard is designed to provide views to the river, as well as privacy with a mixed use of higher walls and a low fence.