Sint-Truiden - Residential care centre

Sint-Truiden, a town with almost 40,000 inhabitants, is located in the heart of the green Haspengouw region. Sint-Truiden’s social service department is planning the renovation of the existing rest-home infrastructure. As part of this initiative, it wishes to organise residential care for 150 residents. The project involves the construction of a completely new building at a new location.
The new residential care centre will be built along an important access road into Sint-Truiden. The lay-out of the open space is linked to the design of the care centre. The open space must be designed so as to make the best of the strengths of the site in order to create a highquality residential environment. The site is located in green surroundings (bordering the urban nature reserve ‘t Speelhof), is adjacent to a care facility for handicapped people (Wiric) and is opposite St. Trudo Hospital. The proximity of a green lung and the presence of other care partners in the local area should represent an added value in the design of the open space and the building, thereby helping create a quality residential environment. The social services department is seeking a plan which takes environmental factors into account and where the design is fully integrated into the surrounding area. The green and open character of the site plays an important part in this regard.
The residents’ comfort must be a central concern in the construction of the residential care centre, but in a way that allows care to be optimally provided. Care activities must be able to take place in an optimal and economically sound manner in the new building. For the supporting services, the social services department is aiming to ensure the highest possible degree of operational efficiency on both campuses (new construction project and the maintenance of the ‘t Meiland rest home sections). The building must have an open atmosphere, be airy and a great deal of attention must be devoted to ensuring it receives sufficient light.
In this new construction project, the social services department aims to stimulate residential living for senior citizens in a homely environment. It is anticipating the construction of three sections for 40 residents which must be divisible into two groups of 20, as well as a protected section for 30 dementia patients. In each section, a living/dining room with a specially adapted open kitchen will be provided for 20 residents. In this way, the social services department aims to create a suitable homely atmosphere. There should be a connection to a terrace from the living/dining room, or at least some connection with the outside world. Residents who do not live on the ground floor should also be able to enjoy the open air.
The greatest challenge will involve the creation of a symbiosis between residential and care comfort, the sense of community, an efficient organisational structure and innovative architecture.