Vista Grande Villa

Vista Grande Villa health center and common area renovations and additions began with the following objectives established by the owner: (A) Modernize and update health care and common areas to provide an improved residential character. (B) Enhance the health center resident room choices and improve privacy. (C) Allow for grouping of health center residents with various frailities, including confused residents. (D) Improve the exterior appearance of the 1970's flat roofed facility. (E) Provide a new multi-use gathering space for C.C.R.C. residents.

The first four goals noted above were addressed with the plan concept which places a new resident room addition at the mid point and the end of the north and west resident room wings. Each addition includes two semi-private rooms which are divided by built-in millwork to appear as private rooms. Also provided is an adjacent common family room to improve the recreation options available to residents and enhance the common area's "home-like" environment. The additional resident rooms allow previously utilized hospital type semi-private rooms to be converted to private rooms. The family rooms included in each addition break-up the long institutional corridors and allow daylight into the space. The additions and renovated spaces allow each of the previous nursing wings to operate as a cluster where residents of like frailties can be grouped for more efficient operation in a more pleasant living environment. Each cluster includes staff support spaces and a secure courtyard with access from two common porches.

Residential details including wood moldings, beamed ceilings, porches, and fireplaces were included in the design to enhance the residential character. Relatively nondescript dining and lobby spaces were enhanced with rich detailing. Exposed duct work was concealed with soffits and millwork that includes light valances for indirect light. A new assembly room was provided as a part of the design to meet the needs ot independent residents. The renovated and expanded lobby is located adjacent to both the new multi-use room and dining room to provide a space for residents to gather before and after meals and community events.

For the exterior design of the building additions, building elements were treated like steeply pitched roof houses layered in front of the original flat roofed structure. Courtyards were created by the house forms and adjoining garden walls. Gabled parapet walls were added to portions of the nursing home which were not affected by the additions to relate to the new house forms utilized in the design. The flat roof was maintained behind the parapets due to the large amount of rooftop equipment servicing the home, but shielded by the gable parapet forms.

This renovation design converts a traditionally designed medical model nursing home to appear and function in a more residential character associated with a "clustered cottage" concept.