Meeting point - Kvicksund

Abstract: Kvicksund is located in north west Eskilstuna and is an area with very unique conditions. It's an area that is both divided by the lake Mälaren but also by two municipalities: Västerås in the north and Eskilstuna in the south. In this area you are surrounded by nature while still having access to communications such as trains. My proposal is to build a nursing home in Kvicksund, combined with both a preeschool and café to form a "Meeting point". The building is located near the center for the area with close proximity to the coast and the train station. By connecting the nursing home to a public building the public space is made available to those who have the most difficulty to reach it. Having elders not become isolated is very important and by activating the brain with different activities and new meetings the risk of dementia decrease. In the building there are three departments: one for people with dementia and two somatic departments. There's also a large dining room, living room, exercise room and multiple large courtyards located in and around the building. In the public area of the building there's an open preschool, a café and several common rooms. The building is organized in a way so that the nursing home has one side of the building and the preschool and the cafe have the other.  The two sides are connected by the common areas, this is to simplify different activities between the two sides. The preschool is the only one with a second story and the rest of the building is one story. It's design to be as accessible as possible and create a feeling of independence in the elderly as they can reach all premises without assistance. Personally, I have always gotten an anxious feeling at the thought of a home for the elderly and that is precisely my reason for designing one. This is not a place to skimp on and it is not a place for people to be hidden away in. This is a place which should be full of activities, joy and life!