Environments for Aging - Summer 2022 - 72

design outlook
Great outdoors
Joe Hassel of Perkins Eastman discusses delivering outdoor amenities in
a desert environment at Inspirata Pointe at Royal Oaks by Anne DiNardo
A
S PART OF a multiyear master plan for
Royal Oaks' campus in Sun City, Ariz.,
Inspirata Pointe will feature 450,000
square feet of new independent living
apartments and villas as well as
amenity spaces when it opens in spring 2023.
Elements of biophilic design are incorporated
throughout to enhance resident wellness and
create welcoming sanctuaries within the desert
locale. Here, Joe Hassel, principal and co-practice
area leader for senior living at Perkins Eastman
(Chicago), discusses how to create successful
connections to the outdoors and residents'
evolving expectations for amenities.
How does the project incorporate biophilic
design?
Biophilic design was a team goal from the beginning
and incorporated into the site planning,
architecture, and interior design. Studying the
natural patterns, textures, forms, and materials
found in the Sonoran desert was the first
step. Then we layered in the other principals of
biophilia including dynamic use of natural daylight,
natural ventilation with operable windows,
and sliding glass walls that invite the outdoors in.
Additionally, the site is designed to encourage exploration
and create different experiences from
an aesthetic, program, and scale standpoint.
What design features help residents enjoy
the outdoors, even in the desert?
In the harsh desert climate, extreme heat and
cold as well as arid conditions are major challenges.
To mediate these elements, attention
to the micro-climate is addressed within each
courtyard. Passive cooling design, water features,
and outdoor air circulation are incorporated
for hot summer months, and heaters and
fireplaces aid in cooler months.
How are residents' expectations for
outdoor amenities evolving?
They've evolved to be more experientially based
and are greatly influenced by retail, mixed-use,
and hospitality environments. Creating an
active, ever-changing vibe is critical, which
can be achieved by creating intentional experiences,
building in flexibility for creative
programming, and blurring the line between
interior and exterior space. At Inspirata Pointe,
the site is designed for exploration with artful
placement of promenades, intimate pathways,
covered breezeways, lush seasonal gardens,
and amenities throughout the grounds.
Where do you see senior living heading
next?
With the 100 years+ life expectancy at our
doorstep, there will always be a need to provide
environments to allow people to age with
independence and dignity. The future of living
environments for older adults will elevate the
experiences around life-long engagement, cultural
connectivity, diversity and inclusion, intergenerational
connectivity, state-of-the-art
care, enhanced multidimensional wellness,
and a continued and greater connection to nature
and biophilic design.
72 | summer 2022
efamagazine.com
COURTESY PERKINS EASTMAN
http://www.efamagazine.com
Environments for Aging - Summer 2022

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