03-10-2016

Awarded architecture for senior citizens by DP Architects

Singapore-based DP Architects has won two Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) awards for Goodlife! Makan, their project with recreational spaces and activities for senior citizens based on the theme of food.

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One of the biggest problems with getting old is the risk of being alone, and this can really have negative effects on the psychological and physical health of the elderly. Just the simple act of cooking balanced, nourishing meals with other people and sitting down to eat them together can have beneficial effects on both their social life and their health. This is a problem that the architects from DP Architects have tackled most elegantly, using food as the focus for their design.

The result is Goodlife! Makan in the converted “void deck” of 52 Marine Terrace, Singapore. The term “void deck” refers to the ground floor of apartment blocks that has been left as an open space and can be used for community projects, making it just perfect for this project.

Based on an initiative of Montfort Care - a welfare organisation in Singapore specialising in social services that involve the contribution and help of the community - DP Architects redesigned a 360-square metre space and instead of taking the well-worn conventional path, they delivered a bright, colourful and inviting environment for senior citizens.

Based on the theme of “Food as core”, the project turns the void deck into a large communal space with an open plan - the kitchen forms the heart and everything else is arranged around that, including the dining zone and dishwashing area; it even has a reading nook and conference area, and it’s all focused on reaching out to the elderly to generate both culinary and social experiences.