Faza Raufa Sani
student
Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung
Indonesia
Architecture
The inspiration for designing this work is the importance for elderly people in the community to increase their sense of empowerment, both with their peers as… more
Franc Obguia
advisor
Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U), College of Engineering and Architecture, Cebu City
Philippines
Architecture and Sustainability. Top 8 Finalist – Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) Philippines… more
Your project " How Zoning and Material Selection can Influence Emotional Design for Elderly Assistance Activity Center (Redesign)", demonstrates a compelling and socially impactful architectural response that addresses the emotional, spatial, and social needs of the elderly community. The structure of the presentation flows thoughtfully—from outlining the core design intent to supporting it with detailed observations, interviews, and analyses—which makes your design process easy to follow and grounded in real human experience. The architectural zoning and programmatic layout support your concept beautifully, especially the idea of an inner court acting as a communal heart for interaction and emotional uplift. This thoughtful spatial flow reflects how well the design functions in response to its intended users.
The floorplans and spatial diagrams are well-articulated and clearly demonstrate how your proposed zones accommodate a variety of activities such as workshops, reading, discussions, and socializing. These spaces are intuitively organized and support aging in place with dignity. Your emphasis on natural lighting, sensory experience through textures, and the creation of a home-like atmosphere with earth tones and terracotta highlights show strong emotional sensitivity in the material palette. However, I suggest reviewing the lighting in your renderings—adding more balanced natural and ambient light inside would better communicate the quality of the interior atmosphere you're designing for the elderly.
Your renderings express the essence of your concept, particularly in showing material selections and spatial connectivity. Still, they could be elevated further by studying the shadows and improving texture realism when rendered in Lumion—this would strengthen the emotional impact of your presentation. In your exterior perspectives, adding more vegetation like trees or shrubs and human-scale elements such as seating blocks or community members would create a more grounded, inviting, and visually pleasant scene, resonating with your project's community-driven ethos.
The presentation board is also visually cohesive with a soft and earthy color palette that complements the emotional intent of your design. Your written statements are strong, especially your acknowledgment that the elderly need spaces to be heard, connect, and feel valued. These sentiments shine through your project and are anchored well by your technical decisions, from corridor planning to the tactile qualities of handrails. The insight about replacing cold metal materials with warm, textured wood shows a deep understanding of sensory design.
Thank you, Faza Raufa Sani, and congratulations for joining the Inspireli Competition. Your project reminds us that architecture is a powerful medium for healing, dignity, and reconnection. With continued refinement in rendering detail and visual storytelling, this concept can evolve into a benchmark for elderly-centered design in our built environments. Keep building with empathy and vision—your work has a meaningful voice.