Villa De Nozomi: A Senior Care Residence Designed with Artistic Flair

Creating a Meaningful and Vibrant Living Space for Seniors

Senior houses often prioritize comfort and functionality, but Kamio wanted to go beyond that and create a more creative and dramatic atmosphere. To achieve this, he designed the spaces in Villa De Nozomi to resemble an art gallery, with various geometric expressions throughout. One of the standout features is the main lounge, where Kamio focused on the ceiling as an important design aspect. Instead of a flat ceiling, he created slightly different height levels with colored circle shapes. This not only added depth and expansiveness to the space but also drew visitors' eyes to both the floors and the ceilings, creating an extraordinary visual experience.

In terms of materials, Kamio used wooden panels and PVC sheets to express graphics on the walls and floors. By cutting these materials into small pieces and reassembling them in unique patterns, he achieved dimensional rhythms and a variety of visual impressions. This approach not only added visual interest but also helped keep costs down.

The design team, which included Tomoi Ban and Kenji Harasawa, extensively used 3D images and models to understand the visual effects of the graphic expressions. This allowed them to better comprehend the relationships and flows between each space, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious design.

Villa De Nozomi is located in Tokyo, Japan, and the project took place from December 2018 to April 2021. Throughout the design process, the team consulted with senior individuals to understand their interests and desires for their retirement life. They also visited art galleries to study graphic art, further enriching their design approach.

One of the main challenges faced by the team was adhering to the strict regulations in the residential area where the building is located. As the building features large glass walls, the interior is easily visible from the outside. This meant that the team had to carefully coordinate the colors of the interior spaces to comply with the surrounding environment and laws. Through extensive research and experimentation with color hues, brightness, and lighting effects, they were able to find the optimal design expression.

Villa De Nozomi, with its art-inspired design, provides a unique and vibrant living space for seniors. By incorporating artistic elements, Kamio and his team have created an environment that fosters creativity, energy, and a sense of purpose. This project was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2022, recognizing its outstanding creativity and contribution to improving quality of life for seniors.