The Day Care Center for the Elderly is conceived as a single-story structure with a gable roof, designed in a modern architectural style and constructed with contemporary materials that meet the standards of energy efficiency and sustainable architecture. Special emphasis has been placed on ensuring optimal natural lighting in the users’ living spaces. Accordingly, all planned rooms are oriented toward the east and south, maximizing daylight exposure throughout both summer and winter. The positioning of the building provides maximum green space while minimizing paved entrance areas. The form and placement of the building were carefully considered to create a private courtyard located on the southeastern side of the plot. The entire space has been planned according to an “open space” concept, without rigid barriers or boundaries, thereby offering users a greater sense of comfort.
The selection of materials and landscaping was guided by criteria that respect the climate and geography of the region, while also ensuring cost-effectiveness and accessibility. Particular care was taken to prioritize materials that can be sourced locally, reinforcing both sustainability and a sense of belonging to the community. The architectural concept of the Day Care Center for the Elderly envisions the use of natural river stone from the banks of Morača river, whose texture and color bring the spirit of place into the design and create a feeling of rootedness in the environment. Silicate plaster was chosen not only for its long-term affordability and ease of maintenance, but also for its clean, neutral aesthetic that helps the spaces remain fresh and welcoming over time. Wood was incorporated for its durability and resilience, but above all for the warmth it conveys – used in ceilings, terraces, the main entrance, and interior details, it creates a homelike atmosphere that resonates with the building's purpose of care and comfort. The roof is designed with plasticized sheet metal, a practical and cost-effective solution that ensures reliability and minimizes the risk of leakage, while vinyl flooring has been introduced in most rooms to provide safety, ease of maintenance, and a non-slip surface for users. Importantly, suspended ceilings were deliberately avoided, both to reduce construction costs and to enhance the sense of openness, allowing the interior spaces to feel brighter, more generous, and more connected to the outside world. Together, these choices embody a vision of a space that is not only functional and sustainable, but also warm, accessible, and deeply attuned to the everyday lives of the people it serves.
A place like the Day Care Center for the Elderly is not just a building – it is a sanctuary of light, warmth, and dignity, designed to nurture vitality and well-being in later life. Here, architecture becomes an act of care, where every material, every orientation, and every detail is chosen to support both the body and the spirit of its users. Studies have shown that activities such as social games, adapted sports, and gardening are ideal for maintaining the vitality of older generations (65+), fostering both physical health and mental well-being. The building itself is conceived as a supportive framework for these activities, ensuring that the environment encourages movement, connection, and joy. During the development of the concept, particular attention was devoted to energy efficiency, with the goal of achieving the highest possible level of self-sustainability. The positioning of the living room and its glazed section was carefully determined based on research on the sun’s path during summer and winter. For this reason, the glass façade was recessed and covered, providing essential shade in the summer while allowing unobstructed sunlight to enter during the winter months. PVC joinery was selected as the most suitable solution, not only because it is the most affordable option, but also because it offers excellent thermal performance. A central water heater was planned to serve the toilets and kitchen, with the additional provision of connecting it to a solar panel placed on the roof and oriented toward the south. Climate control within the building is designed through a VRV system, which has been proved technologically to be one of the most efficient solutions – both in terms of electricity consumption and in the balanced distribution of heating and cooling. These choices embody a vision of a space that sustains life, encourages activity, and provides comfort. The Day Care Center is thus not only a functional facility, but a living environment where older generations can continue to thrive, remain connected to their families, and experience the dignity of aging with vitality and joy.
