Nursing home, Hallsberg

Set around a series of courtyards, a sense of intimacy is created at the home despite the large scale of the cloister-like building. The varying roof height, clear gable motifs and a varied façade palette help to break down the scale and frame the courtyards clearly and distinctly. Adjacent to the home are a health centre and public dental service, which are accessible directly from the various units via an interior walkway. Through a varied interior design, where the public nature of the walkway is emphasised by the materials used, spatial variation is created, even for those who are only able to move short distances. The same goes for the outdoor environments, which comprise both large, park-like gardens and more intimate courtyards.

Solid materials, the arcades, terraces and multiple courtyards together create a sober backdrop to the everyday lives of the residents. The apartments look out over the green courtyards or the nature outside. Sightlines are carefully studied to establish a feeling of life and context. In order to create a dignified “home” that has more in common with a private residence than an institutional environment, the design has sought to avoid placing apartments along long corridors, instead opting for a more residential, home-like spatial sequence and scale.

A large central courtyard affords views of the meadows behind the nursing home. The residents can enjoy the change of seasons from the living room window. Where the property ends, an ecopark, which was established after the great flood in Hallsberg in 2015 begins.