society in miniature

Integrated children's center and assisted living community, Noord-Scharwoude

In Noord-Scharwoude, an innovative residential community is taking shape, combining an assisted living facility with a children's center. This development features 52 assisted living apartments alongside childcare facilities, creating more than just a building – it's a miniature society. The center brings together dedicated spaces for senior living and childcare with shared facilities that encourage intergenerational activities. Here, residents and children naturally interact throughout their daily lives: Children invite seniors to their performances, residents enjoy reading sessions with the young ones, and during traditional Dutch celebrations, they gather in the community restaurant to bake seasonal treats together.

Function:
assisted living & education

Client:
Horizon Zorgcentrum, Allente & Municipality Dijk en Waard

Location:
Noord-Scharwoude

Year:
2026 (verwacht)

Status:
design phase

A community under one roof
The building integrates assisted living apartments, childcare, and educational facilities under one roof. The residential wing provides seniors with independent living while ensuring support is readily available. Each function has its own dedicated space or 'house' within the overall complex. These 'houses' are arranged around a central community hub that includes shared spaces designed for multiple uses and joint activities. The hub features a community restaurant, art studio, and library. This central heart doesn't just connect different parts of the building – it brings people together, creating a vibrant community space where residents and children naturally interact.

"We're designing spaces that naturally encourage interaction between generations through informal encounters. These social connections are intentionally fostered through our design choices. The layout significantly influences how people use the space. We've eliminated physical and social barriers – everyone is seen and encouraged to participate."
Carina Nørregaard, LIAG architects + engineers

The building's design, featuring a central community hub with an entrance and two surrounding wings, allows us to cater to specific needs of both residents and children. Our guiding principle is: Together when beneficial, separate when needed. Creating a safe, homelike environment is essential for all users. We achieve this through human-scale architecture, natural materials, and gentle color schemes. Clear sightlines and intuitive navigation paths help everyone orient themselves easily, while each wing maintains its distinct identity.

Village character in a green setting
The building consists of multiple interconnected wings that create a harmonious whole through their design, color palette, and carefully selected materials. The architecture reflects the local village character with its modest height, pitched roofs, and traditional brickwork that complements the surrounding buildings. Yet the design clearly marks this as a distinctive development. The innovative use of 'pretty plastics' in parts of the facade and roof highlights both the community-focused purpose and sustainability commitment, while natural color tones help the building blend seamlessly into its green surroundings.

The complex is set in a landscape inspired by the concept of an archipelago. Each "island" serves a unique purpose: the main island houses the residential and childcare wings, while smaller islands feature specially designed gardens for various activities. The outdoor spaces are thoughtfully planned to accommodate different needs, with accessible walking paths winding through the gardens and a scenic water feature encircling the property. The landscaping plan preserves existing mature trees wherever possible, maintaining the site's natural character.

A unique partnership
The building emerges from an innovative partnership between Horizon Zorgcentrum (a senior living provider), Allente (an education and childcare organization), and the Municipality of Dijk en Waard. By combining their expertise, they're creating a unique living environment that features 52 assisted living apartments with comprehensive support services alongside an integrated children's center. This development will play a vital role in the village community, enabling seniors to maintain their independence while staying in their familiar surroundings, and ensuring the sustainability of local services.

"It's exciting to bring our expertise in multigenerational design to other countries. Our projects emphasize mixed-use spaces and shared facilities as core principles. We understand that successful collaboration is crucial to creating an environment where both seniors and children can thrive together, enriching each other's lives through daily interactions."
Claus Jensen, rum

Partners:
rum (architectuur) en Zonneveld ingenieurs (constructie)

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