Socio-spatial analysis of Australian residential care facilities: A case study of traditional, medium, and small household models.

RESIDENTIAL care; DESIGN services; ETHNOLOGY research; QUALITY of life; HOUSEHOLDS

While it is imperative to develop building design innovation to adapt to new care models and organisational processes in residential care facilities, there is a lack of research evidence on the interplay between design and resident lived experience, particularly when examined through a building design lens. This study aims to explore the building design factors that contribute to residents' quality of life (QoL), and thus, their ability to find home. The research objectives are to: 1) document and analyse the layout and spatial design of three different typologies (Traditional, Medium, and Small Household models) against key QoL themes and the residents' everyday lived use and sense of feeling at home ; and 2) compare the architectural, layout, and lived use of the three typologies through a socio-spatial lens. Employing a mixed methods approach, incorporating architectural and ethnographic research strategies, we identified six key design concepts encompassing 14 factors that might be related to residents' quality of life. The research highlights distinct everyday lived use and spatial adaptation among the three building typologies, with the Small Household case study standing out for providing an excellent holistic setting, resulting in high levels of observed QoL. This paper also suggests practical insights into improving building design briefs. • Building typology impact resident spatial practices and lived use. • Key QoL themes impact the fundamental elements of the process of making a home. • Six design concepts and 14 design factors contributed to resident QoL. • Design factors aid to translate knowledge into design practice. • Building design is pivotal to the interplay of management-care-environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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