Converging Boundaries; Housing for the Elderly in Selfoss
(2025) AAHM10 20251Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Abstract
- This thesis proposes a new architectural approach for elderly housing in Selfoss, a town located approximately 45-50 minutes from Reykjavík. It is experiencing increased housing demand due to its growth as a service and commuter hub. Rather than directly adopting common local apartment typologies, the project reconsiders their form, spatial qualities, and relationship to the site, aiming to meet the needs of elderly residents better.
The research investigates the concept of convergence, integrating public and private space, building and landscape, openness and shelter, to enhance comfort, community, and spatial quality. Specifically, it asks: How can convergence between public and private space, building and landscape, and openness and... (More) - This thesis proposes a new architectural approach for elderly housing in Selfoss, a town located approximately 45-50 minutes from Reykjavík. It is experiencing increased housing demand due to its growth as a service and commuter hub. Rather than directly adopting common local apartment typologies, the project reconsiders their form, spatial qualities, and relationship to the site, aiming to meet the needs of elderly residents better.
The research investigates the concept of convergence, integrating public and private space, building and landscape, openness and shelter, to enhance comfort, community, and spatial quality. Specifically, it asks: How can convergence between public and private space, building and landscape, and openness and shelter enhance comfort, community, and spatial quality in elderly housing in Selfoss?
Through thoughtful design decisions, the building’s form shifts at its base, creating a varied and grounded connection to the landscape. Gabion stone walls on the ground floor play a significant role in this strategy, sheltering outdoor spaces and clearly defining the boundary between the building and its environment. The density of these walls varies depending on wind exposure, becoming denser where greater protection is necessary. This design softens transitions at ground level and supports natural airflow.
Car parking is integrated between the gabion walls and beneath the building, reducing the overall building footprint and allowing natural drainage within the courtyard, providing more generous outdoor spaces. Shared functions, including laundry facilities, bike storage, workshops, and flexible gathering spaces, encourage daily interaction and social engagement. On residential floors, shared corridors placed between balconies and apartments create opportunities for casual encounters, enhancing social interaction, community connections, and a sense of belonging among elderly residents. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9215653
- author
- Björnsson, Stefán Ari LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- AAHM10 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Housing, Elderly housing, Convergence
- language
- English
- id
- 9215653
- date added to LUP
- 2025-11-25 09:11:09
- date last changed
- 2025-11-25 09:11:09
@misc{9215653,
abstract = {{This thesis proposes a new architectural approach for elderly housing in Selfoss, a town located approximately 45-50 minutes from Reykjavík. It is experiencing increased housing demand due to its growth as a service and commuter hub. Rather than directly adopting common local apartment typologies, the project reconsiders their form, spatial qualities, and relationship to the site, aiming to meet the needs of elderly residents better.
The research investigates the concept of convergence, integrating public and private space, building and landscape, openness and shelter, to enhance comfort, community, and spatial quality. Specifically, it asks: How can convergence between public and private space, building and landscape, and openness and shelter enhance comfort, community, and spatial quality in elderly housing in Selfoss?
Through thoughtful design decisions, the building’s form shifts at its base, creating a varied and grounded connection to the landscape. Gabion stone walls on the ground floor play a significant role in this strategy, sheltering outdoor spaces and clearly defining the boundary between the building and its environment. The density of these walls varies depending on wind exposure, becoming denser where greater protection is necessary. This design softens transitions at ground level and supports natural airflow.
Car parking is integrated between the gabion walls and beneath the building, reducing the overall building footprint and allowing natural drainage within the courtyard, providing more generous outdoor spaces. Shared functions, including laundry facilities, bike storage, workshops, and flexible gathering spaces, encourage daily interaction and social engagement. On residential floors, shared corridors placed between balconies and apartments create opportunities for casual encounters, enhancing social interaction, community connections, and a sense of belonging among elderly residents.}},
author = {{Björnsson, Stefán Ari}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Converging Boundaries; Housing for the Elderly in Selfoss}},
year = {{2025}},
}