︎

Meaningful Complexity: A Senior Village in the City by Issam Al-Harhara

Urban living is both a physically and emotionally demanding lifestyle, even more-exponentially so for the elderly. It is a false presumption to expect seniors to live meaningfully just by centralizing the aging population into one place, barely passing daily life in a monotone ambiance, unattached with the environment.


This design diverges from its precedents by creating 3 connected pieces with no obvious center. First block is largely occupied with residential spaces, hence its integrated connection to supermarkets. Second block is mainly for cultural rejuvenation which houses art galleries, cinemas and trendy cafes. Third block is for physical activities with pools and gyms.

This complex of residential buildings does not try to fit all functions and activities into one messy block of forgettable mass. The three blocks are interconnected and designed with a fundamental principle of an organic massing with a natural progression of the shapes and forms. It has an abundance of green communal spaces that residents can access directly in all of the balcony space. These mutually inhabited spaces are encapsulating and synthesizing user-specific spatial experiences which enhances not only the day-to-day lifecycle of its occupants but also actively and inwardly protects them from all the disarray of urban living.