"Garden of the Senses" - Redesign of the outdoor area of a nursing home

The client consciously decided to build more than just an outdoor facility at the nursing home in Wutöschingen. A "garden of the senses" was to be created in which the residents, visitors and employees could feel comfortable and also become active themselves.
We paid particular attention to the pathways. The examination of the clinical picture of people suffering from dementia made the great importance of the routing clear to us. In order to guarantee loops without dead ends, we developed the ground plan of the garden from the ellipse form. The garden is framed by shrubs, in which a fence is hidden. People with dementia should not be able to leave the area without supervision. The three elypses of different sizes are framed by a custom-made stainless steel handrail. We also transferred the elypse shape to the steel pergola, which invites people to linger, with specially manufactured seating made of prefabricated concrete elements.
The path surface is asphalt, bordered by a granite single line. This guarantees a homogeneous surface appearance and the comfortable use with wheelchairs or Rollatoren.
Central equipment element is an electronically steered fountain plant, which serves on the one hand as eyecatcher from the inside and outside, in addition, the contact with the important nature element water makes possible. In addition, the new fountain system produces a soothing gentle splash.
Special sensory stations have been placed along the paths to stimulate people suffering from dementia. A table-bench combination with sun protection can become an outdoor "meeting place".
A high-quality lighting concept rounds off the design. In the inner courtyard of the nursing home, an elyptic plant trough made of stainless steel provides the necessary space for the greenery that is important there.