H igh levels of natural light and ventilation |are the hallmarks of Tree Top Village in Newcastle, a retirement village ‘with an inspirational design’ that roof window supplier, Velux says ‘achieves its goal’ through extensive use of Velux Modular Skylights.
The award-winning ‘village’, designed by architects, ID Partnership, is reportedly the UK’s first of its kind, and is focused on delaying the onset of dementia. High daylight levels are achieved via a central four-storey atrium with 60 Velux ridgelights, complemented by 10 Velux longlights providing additional illumination in areas away from the atrium. All were installed by Glazing Systems & Installations, a ‘key Velux partner’.
Velux said: “The ridglelights and longlights help this exemplar mixed-use retirement village, managed by Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), make extensive use of natural light, which recent research shows has beneficial effects on the patient wellbeing and recovery.
The new ‘village’s design was ‘influenced’ by Dr Hans Becker, ‘a leading expert in the retirement industry’. Velux explained: “Meeting Dr Hans Marcel Becker’s philosophy involved designing the atrium and rooflights to create a ‘contemporary hotel-feel’, encouraging residents to actively engage and participate, and ensuring that each apartment overlooks the main thoroughfare, reinforcing the community feel.
Tree Top Village, which provides 111 accommodation units exclusively for over 55s or people with an assessed medical need, is reportedly unique in opening up its community and retail facilities to the public, accentuating the ‘village’ atmosphere. Alongside 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and 36 one and two-bedroom homes and eight bungalows, the village incorporates four retail units, a multipurpose medical room, and a ‘reminiscence museum’ containing familiar household and consumer objects – to help trigger memories for Dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers, and act as a ‘conversation piece’
The Velux Modular Skylights team worked with Wates Construction to value engineer the original curtain walling design envisaged for the rooflights. Velux presented the benefits of its self-supporting ridgelights for the central atrium. Being selfsupporting meant they eliminated the need for a steel sub-frame support system.