Care location connected to the neighborhood. Light, connection and atmosphere

On the edge of rustic Harmelen lies care location Princenhof. De Rijnhoven's newest location offers inpatient care for people with dementia. Peters & Lammerink architects designed a modern and sustainable nursing home that is truly part of the residential area. Bouwen aan de Zorg was given a tour and interviewed Petra van Oostrom, Director of Housing, Welfare and Real Estate, and architect Michiel Lammerink.

Upon arrival, it is immediately apparent: Princenhof and adjacent location Vijverhof belong together. The two buildings clearly match in architecture. This makes sense, as Peters & Lammerink architects also drew this design. Upon entering, the central living room catches the eye. Van Oostrom: "We find it important that you feel welcome. Both floors have their own square for common use, which gives atmosphere and connects the residents." 

At second glance, one notices that on the first floor there is an immediate view through to the garden. Lammerink: "We have made sure that a lot of light enters everywhere; the building is not narrow and deep, but wide and shallow, with many windows. On the first floor the garden is immediately visible, on the second floor the same applies to the balconies. This layout creates perception and atmosphere, but also draws the residents' attention in the right direction."

Princenhof's story begins when the De Rijnhoven location in De Meern no longer meets caregiver quality standards. Van Oostrom: "The demand for nursing home places for people with advanced dementia is increasing. The new location therefore had to offer more space than the outdated location." 

Princenhof consists of 42 studios with six shared living rooms spread over two floors. Each studio has a private bathroom. The shared living rooms provide space for relaxation and are equipped with a full and safe kitchen where fresh food is cooked every day. The dementia-friendly garden surrounding the homes invites residents to enjoy the sunshine, gardening and take pleasant walks to the orchard. "The residents who have moved in with us now have a garden instead of a balcony," he said.

In establishing the care location, Lammerink first entered into discussions with De Rijnhoven. "To make the right choice, it was important to know how large the groups would be and how they function. In this case, the choice was made with six living groups of seven residents. The cooperation went very well and made it possible to make quick decisions." For the look of the building, Lammerink looked to the Vijverhof. "I still think it is one of the better examples of how friendly the building can be. They are not blocks, in addition the bricks and wood have a warm color. Because the buildings don't have a flat roof, they fit in well with the neighborhood."

Says Van Oostrom, "We wanted the residents to really have their own home, with a common living room for each group of seven people. They can then decide for themselves how much they want to do together." To achieve the best result, a large group of people from the organization were involved in the creation of the new building. "We presented them with the preliminary design and went through it in detail. We repeated this process three times with a large group. We incorporated the input we received into the design." Lammerink: "We made the presentation in 3D, so you could stand in the design, so to speak." 

One of the elements long talked about by the organization was the layout of the bathrooms. Van Oostrom: "This is very important for the care to be provided. For example, what is the distance between toilet and shower? Where are the tools that the care staff has to use? We looked at this very intensively. People from other locations also thought along, because they know from practice what works and what doesn't." 

"Being critical is good" says Lammerink. "We have now made very educated decisions." Princenhof has become a sustainable nursing home, equipped with solar panels and a heat pump. It was built of natural materials, with an eye for the environment. The entire building is equipped with top cooling so that even in a hot summer the indoor temperature remains pleasant. Underfloor heating provides extra comfort in winter. The parking lot is equipped with charging stations for electric cars. "With this, this is a future-proof building," said Mr. K.

Van Oostrom: "Vijverhof is also well put together, but Princenhof is really another step up." This also applies to the application of modern home automation techniques. These contribute to the safety of residents. For example, smart optical sensors indicate when a resident gets out of bed. Beacons can prevent vulnerable residents from going outside alone, and GPS trackers can follow them around the outdoor area. "Yet we think it's important not to look for everything in technology in particular. By making the grounds as attractive as possible, we ensure that residents do not feel the need to walk further away." Rijnhoven is also actively working to connect the care facility with Harmelen's other residents. "Through children playing and people walking their dogs, there is pleasant interaction with people from the neighborhood."