COUNTERCOLLAPSE

Imagine New Life in the Care Center

Shenzhen, China
ADV Studio IV, GSAPP, Summer 2021
Academic Work
Mentor | Ignacio G. Galan
Team Members in Research Stage*| Chenxi Dong, Tianran Li

Our project explores the transition in the life of Grandma Yang, who moved from a close-knit rural community to the city as she aged. In the city, she feels isolated, a common issue among many elderly people living in urban areas. This problem is exacerbated by the growing number of “empty-nest” and immigrant elderly, as well as resistance to nursing homes. 

We envision developing a brochure that presents our proposed intervention to the privately managed Octagon Center, a long-term care facility for the elderly in Yuanling Village. By redesigning the building, the project aims to foster a sense of sharing, collaboration, and a reimagining of collective living. Through the creation of communal spaces and practices, the revamped care center seeks to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and encourage a departure from traditional notions of family dependency.