The day began with breakfast in the Foundation Bar, followed by a welcome talk delivered in the adjoining Foundation Room. Partner Patrick Devlin mapped the shifting perceptions towards Third Age housing, from the twentieth century approach of ‘where do we put them?’ to the emerging emphasis on agency and community. Important questions were raised – where do we want to live when we’re older? And can your last home be your best home?

Partner Sarah Eastham then explored our 2009 HAPPI report, and how these design principles can benefit people of all ages, particularly in high-density areas with ageing demographics such as London. Projects codesigned for intentional communities, such as New Ground and Woodside Square, were highlighted. The talk concluded with associate Stephen Morris’s overview of our Third Age business plan, setting out our sector goals and aspirations.

This month’s reviews – a south coast care home with Stephen and Patrick and Abbey Chase Nursing Home, with Sarah again and architect Louisa Newman – were packed. For the latter, which focused on remodelling its circular layout, corridors and institutional interiors, navigation and a sense of ‘invitation’ were the main design challenges facing the team. Isabel questioned the impact of Covid-19 on the plan’s design with Domi asking how care home design will adapt to match generational taste. Rebecca explored the idea of collating exemplar care home interiors, including ours and examples from around the world. Sarah showed a new layout, revealing improved wayfinding and views out over the adjacent River Abbey, while the interiors will be reinvigorated with colour and domestic décor.

This conference day marked the launch of three films produced with Jim Stephenson and Edward Bishop, Colby Lodge, Sandringham, and Hammerson House.

Lunch, which had a suitably spooky Halloween theme, was prepared by design workshop 4. According to colleague Nick Browne:

After lunch, the work-life balance workshop with James Milford explored methods for responding to feeling overwhelmed and dealing with your ‘inner critic.’ Attendees were asked to list their typical routines, and to consider whether these daily habits were nourishing or depleting. James then led the attendees through a short ‘breathing and labelling’ exercise, which emphasized validating our stressors and responding to them with compassion and self-soothing.

There were three surgeries this month. The sustainability surgery, led by partner Simon Whitley, explored the opportunities and constraints of light, partial and deep retrofit. Meanwhile, Alexander Dixon held a drop-in IT surgery and Laura Binaburo and Javi Martín hosted a BIM surgery.