THE GREEN HOUSE^® Design Charrette

THE GREEN HOUSE® model creates a small intentional community for a group of elders and staff. It is a place that focuses on life, and its heart is found in the relationships that flourish there. A radical departure from traditional skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities, The Green House model alters facility size, interior design, staffing patterns, and methods of delivering skilled professional services. Its primary purpose is to serve as a place where elders can receive assistance and support with activities of daily living and clinical care, without the assistance and care becoming the focus of their existence. Developed by Dr. William Thomas and rooted in the tradition of the Eden Alternative, a model for cultural change within nursing facilities, The Green House model is intended to de-institutionalize long-term care by eliminating large nursing facilities and creating habilitative, social settings.  Click here to go to The Green House Project web site to learn more.

Design Charrette
Individuals and teams registered with IDEAS Institute.  Teams were randomly assigned to an urban, rural, or suburban site. 

Submissions included the following:

• Site plan with community context
• Single house plan(s)
• Detailed plan of bedroom(s)
• 3-dimensional renderings for main facades (elevations are optional)
• 1 or more 3-dimensional renderings of shared interior spaces (hearth, dining room, and kitchen)
• 1 or more 3-dimensional renderings of bedroom(s)
• Written statement (1-2 pages) describing the solution and ideas represented

Jury Process
All entries were reviewed for completeness and accuracy for following The Green House Design Charrette guidelines. Projects that did not respond to the Design Charrette program requirements were not sent to the jury for review. The jury comprised design professionals, an elder, a Shabahz, a family member of an elder living in a Green House home, and care providers who are knowledgeable about The Green House project. Designs were evaluated based on creativity, feasibility, and their ability to capture the spirit of The Green House Model. Awards were given for each site (rural, suburban and urban) for professional teams and for student teams. Projects that met the program requirements and reflect creative solutions received rcognition and will be included in dissemination activities.

First Place - Urban Design
Rosemann & Associates, P.C. and
Mount Carmel Senior Living

First Place - Suburban Design
NK Architects

First Place Tie- Rural Design
Dahlin Group

First Place Tie- Rural Design
Reese Lower Patrick & Scott Architects

Honorable Mention - Suburban Design
Harley Ellis Devereaux

Honorable Mention - Student Design
Chris Sutton & Andrew Hughes

Honorable Mention - Student Design
Yi-Ching Tsai, Meredith Jones & Aaron Chen

 Ten other teams received special recognition for their creative entries. Their design solutions were displayed at the 2008 annual conference for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging in Philadelphia. The designs will be showcased at other upcoming conferences as well as in the new Green House Design Manaul. Click here to go to the NCB Capital Impact web site to learn more about the Design Charrette.