EHPAD Clairefond

Nickl & Partner Architekten AG

EHPAD stands for établissement d’hébergement pour personnes âgées dépendantes, an old people’s home providing a full range of medical care. This one has been designed for maximum flexibility, to accommodate future developments in medicine, logistics and technology.

Located on a very large site, it comprises eight units linked by a long communal area to encourage interaction between residents, with the healthcare units deliberately facing outwards and with views of the landscaped areas. Each has a different appearance and purpose and faces in a different direction, giving it a sense of privacy and intimacy despite the project’s size.

The consulting rooms and bedrooms are standardised, each department has a similar reception area, and logistical functions are grouped together for efficiency, ease of use, and maintenance. Patios provide generous natural lighting throughout each unit and create a different feel from one day and one season to the next.

The treatment units have an airy, comfortable, reassuring and hotel-like feel. Each part of the site is clearly identifiable to help patients, visitors and staff find their way around easily, and the welcoming, pavilion-like layout is complemented by the varied and attractive facades and roofs, which fit naturally into the surrounding landscape.

Competition, 2013