Palm Court is a residential dementia unit in Brisbane, Australia. Originally built in the 1980s, the stand-alone building sits among other aged care facilities for Alzheimer’s Association Queensland.
COOP Creative (Queensland, Australia) worked with the existing envelope to renovate the interior of Palm Court, including the selection of furniture, fabrics, objects, and artwork. The renovated facility reopened in October 2012.
Alzheimer’s Association Queensland CEO Stephen McNally’s vision was to create a 14-private suite flagship facility that had the feeling of an elegant home with the energy of a boutique hotel. That design inspiration led to the incorporation of hospitality-like elements including:
•An arrival desk that carries out similar functions to a hotel reception/check-in counter
•A dining room that forms the “heart” of the residence
•Familiar and nostalgic elements such as a kitchen at the end of the dining room
•Sitting areas that are split into quiet and noisy zones
•Engagement with the outdoors, including access to sunlight and gardens
•Elegant resident suite identification
•En suite bathrooms
The design team took into consideration the roles of the staff at Palm Court and the daily routine of the residents in order to spatially and practically reconfigure the interior. Importance was also placed on making visitors feel welcome and assisting with easing the anxiety of family members.
For example, a sense of arrival is created using clear sight lines from staffing/nursing areas to the public zones to ensure visitors are greeted personally. Residents and visitors also use the same furniture, dine in the same room, and can make their own tea in the modern kitchen.
The neutral palette incorporates gold and caramel tones with overlays of timber to create a domestic feel. The furniture is lightweight and movable, with a combination of upright and reclining options, and has been upholstered in selected healthcare fabrics.
These flagship design elements are also being rolled out to other facilities for Alzheimer’s Association Queensland, including a 40 residence high-care dementia unit catering exclusively to women.
