Working with developer, Galliford Try Partnerships, the 38 bed extra care scheme on Newlyn Road in Kenton for Your Homes Newcastle comprises of 18 two bedroom and 20 one bedroom apartments in a three storey building with two storey wings set around communal garden areas.
The apartments have specifically been designed in line with the University of Stirling design guidelines to meet the needs of those residents suffering from Dementia. The driving force behind the design has been the wish to ensure that the apartment block avoids any institutional feel and creates bright and engaging spaces (both indoors and out) that encourage residents to use them.

Each apartment’s living room opens directly onto either a private terrace/ garden area (on the ground floor) or juliette balcony (upper floors) which allows each resident to have access to the outdoors. Similarly, each kitchen has a window that opens onto the communal corridor; this reinforces a community feel between residents and aims at avoiding feelings of isolation whilst bedroom windows are full height to ensure that residents have a view out whether standing, sitting or lying down. Even the entrance lobby is open plan to the living room, which means that it will get a significant amount of borrowed light, avoiding dark, unwelcoming entrance halls.

The individual apartments are designed to be flexible to the changing needs of the residents over time, allowing people to remain in their homes for as long as possible whilst the building overall encourages residents to utilise the outdoor space and increase levels of activity, empowering them to be active and live independently. Communal facilities include a residents’ lounge with a carpet bowls area, communal laundry, office and consultation rooms with two roof terraces increasing the levels of natural light and encouraging the use of outdoor spaces to avoid isolation.