In Egedal Municipality, the construction of the new district Egedal City with 3,000 future homes is well underway. 67 of them will be built in the senior living community Egehaven, which will be built on a 7,300 m² plot of land next to the common outdoor space ‘The Green Loop’. LINK Arkitektur has designed the winning project for the senior living community.
Egehaven is aimed at singles and couples on their way into the 3rd age, who dream of a home with the opportunity to continue an active life together with others. The homes are aimed at two age groups, 55-65-year-olds and 65-75-year-olds. This ensures a mixed makeup of residents. Residents will have their own apartments with access to facilities that create an environment for a strong community culture.
Becoming a senior today does not mean that you get stuck. Many older people today live a life of great social and physical activity. Therefore it requires a framework that enables people to continue to unfold - both physically and socially. The framework is conceived in Egehaven, where a community house with communal kitchen and facilities for shared dining and social events, orangery, utility gardens, campfire site, petanque courts and workshops.
Social responsibility
Neighborhood and safety are key elements in the project. The landscape and outdoor spaces are planned so that they are clear, well-lit and safe for residents and visitors. They enable casual encounters through communities of interest to develop into good neighborhoods and friendships. Residents also share small green niches on the balcony with their neighbor, allowing for a small-scale neighborhood community.
The green areas are divided into two zones: the edible garden and the active garden. In the edible garden there are both fruit trees, berry bushes and orchards and a common orangery. The edible garden is first and foremost sensual and exciting to visit, but it is also a framework for activities for the residents who want to get involved in gardening, greenhouse, pickling, etc.
In the active garden there are workshops, a covered hobby area, a fireplace and a smoking kiln. In this part of the garden, a wilder landscape theme has been chosen, which refers to the landscape that surrounds Egedal City with hedges and wild stands.
As a general feature, there is a strong focus on local rainwater management. Rainwater from roofs and outdoor areas is led to water beds and a large infiltration basin on the site. In addition, as many areas as possible are created with grass, beds and permeable pavement, which allows for rainwater to seep down naturally. Reinforced grass is laid in selected parking areas.
The character of the buildings
The two building constructions are identical in ground plan. Differences and variation arise in the landscaping. Garden walls define transitions between private and common spaces. Private gardens are located towards the periphery of the buildings, while common rooms are located towards the inner courtyards.
The architectural expression refers to the many manors and country estates in Egedal Municipality.
Sustainable material choices
The project is aimed at maximising on sustainability measures. All materials are healthy and indoor climate marked by a recognised scheme, such as The Nordic Ecolabel and the Danish Indoor Climate Labeling. The brick facades of the building are robust, have a long service life and require minimal maintenance. All wood will be sustainability labeled FSC or PEFC.
Collaborators: OJ Rådgivende Ingeniører, Dansk Boligbyg.
Sustainability: Biodiversity in the landscape, rainwater harvesting - green wastewater.
