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Designer: PORT
Investor: Polish Province of the Sister of the Third Order of St.Francis
Executive Company: BIL Sp. z o.o , Czora Sp. z o.o , PPUH AKO Andrzej Kasieczka , Rurbet Sp.z o.o
Function: nursing home
Project Location: Dobrzeń Wielki, Poland
Building Area: 746,3 m2
Land Area: 5121,8 m2
Year: 2015
Photo Credits: J. Ceborski

This is the exterior look at the senior house with a small courtyard surrounded by beige exterior walls and windows.

This side of the senior house has large glass windows and doors on both levels adorned with a miniature garden.

This is a view of the interior showcasing tall beige walls and a collection of beige arm chairs.

This is a view of the hallway interior with large wooden doors for the rooms and a couple of arm chairs on the side.

This is a far corner of the interior that has a large glass wall with a view of the landscape outside.

This is a look at the interior staircase with railings on the side leading to a glass door to access the exterior.

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This is a look at the upper level landing and indoor balcony bordered with railings an topped with a bright beige ceiling.

This is a look at one of the hallways of the interior with hand rails on the side.

This is a look at one of the hallways of the interior with hand rails on the side and a potted plant on the far side.

This is a closer look at the end of the hallway with a potted plant at the corner and a wall-mounted artwork on the side.

This is a view of the lower level courtyard from the vantage of the upper level window showcasing the sitting area.

This is a view of one of the room with a large wooden bed with wheels and a small dining area on the side.

This is the spacious bathroom with hand rails on the sides and black tiles on the floor.

This is a set of built-in cabinets on the side of the door.

This is another looka t the bathroom showcasing the toilet and floating sink with multiple hand rails on the sides for support.

This is another bedroom with built-in cabinets on the isde and a table area on the far side by the glass windows.

The glass windows bring in an abundance of natural lighting for the beige walls and ceiling.

This is a close look at the staircase of the interior as well as the wide halls.

This is another hallway with a large glass wall on one side adorned with multiple potted plants.

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Outside the glass wall of the hallway is a view of the courtyard below with an out dining area.

This is a side of the interior of the senior house with a set of glass doors adorned with a potted plant on the side.

This is the upper level landing and indoor balcony with railings and a view of the large glass wall.

This is a hallway within the senior house with a alrge glass wall on one side adorned with a potted plant.

The interior of the senior house has beige marble floors and wide hallways.

The interior of the senior house has beige marble floors and wide hallways brightened by the natural lights.

This is a hallway that leads to a door to access the exterior areas of the senior house.

This is an upper level window that looks over the courtyard below flanked by tall walls.

This is a look at the bedroom with a large wooden bed with a bedside table and a small table and chair area by the window.

This bedroom has a set of built-in cabinets and shelves on the far side opposite the bed.

This hallway is adorned by the natural lights coming in from the large glass window adorned with a potted plant.

The interior also has its own elevator with stainless steel doors on the side of the staircase.

This is a look at the landing and indoor balcony from the vantage of one of the rooms.

The upper floor of the senior house has wide hallways with beige walls and ceiling.

This is a room brightly lit by the natural lights coming in from the large window above the built-in wooden bench.

The senior house has large hallways with beige floors and tall ceiling brightly lit with natural lighting.

The wide hallway of the interior has a set of arm chairs on the side adorned with potted plants.

This is a close look at one of the room with its own kitchenette beside the glass doors.

Across from the kitchenette is a pair of dining sets that has wooden tables and chairs.

This is a close look at one of the dining sets that has a large square dining table surrounded by matching wooden chairs.

This is a view of the large grass lawn with walkways and a view of the senior house exteriors.

This is a closer look at the exterior courtyard of the senior house witha miniature garden on the side.

This is a close look at the main entrance of the senior house from the courtyard.

This is a closer look at the exterior courtyard of the senior house witha miniature garden on the side and walkways leading to the grass lawn.

This is another courtyard of the senior house with a narrower design and a large garden on the side.

This is a view of the main courtyard from the vantage of the upper level window.

This is a close looka t the flower garden of the courtyard across from the outdoor dining area.

This is a look at the exteriors with beige exterior walls and windows adorned by the lush landscaping of tall trees and grass lawns.

On the side of the grass lawn is a wide brick walkway leading to the entrance of the courtyard.

This is closer look at the side of the structure adorned with a garden strip and a few tall trees.

This is a close look at the courtyard of the senior house with an outdoor dining area and miniature garden.

This is the senior house's ground level floor plan.

This is the senior house's first level floor plan.

This is the senior house's zoning level floor plan.

Speaking the word ‘home’ a lot of individual meanings come to mind – some hush and rest, a calm dream, a venue to talk, dine, host. Sometimes the home is a place of our warm bed or a family site where we have a chance to meet relatives and sit down together at the table.

The location of the redeveloped building is a small town in Opole voivodeship – Dobrzeń Wielki. The welfare home’s residents usually came from proximal villages. Their health conditions do not allow them to fend for themselves at home but even after changing the environment they still have their habits – spending time in open spaces, in a garden, or meeting with neighbors.

A cat walking around a household, fidgety chickens or pets, surrounding greenery and a view from the window – these inherent ingredients fulfill a daily life. Moreover, the characteristic element of Opole countryside is a backyard bench in front of a house.

It is a place of neighborhood life and some leisure. Designing a nursing home we wanted to conform to these factors. Thus, every resident can feel at home and remind their matters which are still present in their intimate memories about a home.

Furthermore, the shape and form of the building were defined by the lengthy, narrow plot and the diversified garden topped off with the coppice.

The expansion of the building was focused on the betterment of living conditions for residents. Before the alteration rooms were not spacious, completely furnished with beds. There was no appropriate home arrangement and zoning. Other drawbacks were a lack of common space, drear corridors with limited light, technical flows, and architectural barriers for the handicapped.

Our main design purpose was to create a home vibe and eliminate the disadvantages of the building. The modification of the structure of the old welfare house was concentrated on adding the new wing and superstructure.

Likewise, most of the rooms were redeveloped and corridors were allowed better exposure to the view of the garden. In the central part of the building, there was designed a wide, partly two-level foyer. Owing to this fact, space was made more spatial and lighter as well as the residents received a hangout for every season in front of the greenery.

The foyer has a sight connection with two patios – one of them is linked to the garden, the next is similar to a monastic cloister. The external long table and bench are used in dining and chatting facilities. These are subsequent elements that support residents to create close interpersonal contacts.

The cozy cloister-patio with the small fountain and green scenery is a space for hush, reverie, and calm talk. During the summertime, it is also a walking shortcut. Also, the foyer, with widened corridors in the proximity of every room, works as a resting place like a traditional bench.

Resident rooms create some kind of small individual houses. They have distilled daily spaces, kitchenettes with kettles, wardrobes, places for sleeping, and personal bathrooms. The room which can become a home and corridors which can transform into allies – it was the principal aim of the proposed arrangement. The entire building is adapted to the needs of the disabled.

Before II World War the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis managed a similar nursing home – The St. Anna Stift House in Pokoj Village. In 1945, a nun S.M. Herais and her patients hid from the Red Army in the old stable near to the forest’s house.

The stable was burn down along with hiding people. The designed home was named after Sister Herais. In the wall of the foyer, there was allocated the fragment of the stable foundation which reminds that tragic story. Below it, in the aperture, there is a detailed mention of that shattering slaughter.