Together with Ineke van der Ham, professor of neuropsychology at Leiden University, we have established a collaboration on the theme of “building for people with dementia.” For individuals experiencing rapid cognitive decline, intuitive understanding—based on perception and past knowledge—is highly relevant. This should significantly influence the design of residential buildings for this group, though it often does not.
Leiden University is studying the successful Zuidoever project to identify which aspects contribute to the evident living and working enjoyment. Additionally, as part of an internship program, Tangram has reserved a position for a student from the department. This student will further develop research on spatial perception and the importance of balance with greenery while also reviewing other Tangram buildings on these and several other so called ‘soft values’. In such an interdisciplinary collaboration, the one we initiated with the Bloeimeesters—a collective of green designers and gardeners—also fits well, aiming to give greenery a structural place and significance at the earliest possible stage of the design process.