Madeleine MRS · landscape

urban planning

The neighborhood where this site is located, intended to be multifunctional, is very close to the city center and has long been characterized by the presence of buildings dedicated to the care of individuals.

Given its central position on the site, the renovation of the existing building—an old and unsuitable structure—into a “MRS” (residential care home), along with the necessary extensions for this renovation, would not allow for the creation of a central garden conducive to intergenerational interactions, which are key objectives of the “charter” proposed to the various stakeholders.

community

The current project for the construction of a nursing home, a day center, and short-term stay facility is integrated into a community-focused site, which currently includes a nursery, a functional rehabilitation center (Cothan), and a garden with a play area. The Cothan functional rehabilitation center has been rebuilt to meet the current standards for such facilities. The community and intergenerational focus of these various functions is highlighted by the redesign of the existing garden into a recreational park, leading to the overall project being named “a garden for all.”

The new project follows the same architectural approach as the previously approved permit, thus maintaining its strengths in terms of integration with the existing site.

interface

The building is set back from the public alignment. This “landscaped forecourt” is designed with planted areas and paved sections that provide access to the main entrance and offer a ramp for individuals with reduced mobility (PMR).

The surrounding areas are arranged in a semicircle, adjacent to the rotunda of the nursing home.

They consist of:

• a drop-off zone
• a recessed welcoming forecourt with a monumental, landscaped staircase & a ramp for individuals with reduced mobility
• successive gardens at different levels, accessible via ramps, allowing for alternating activity & rest areas
• access to the parking area, delivery zone & SIAMU services is located on the opposite side of the surroundings, ensuring a pedestrian-focused use of the area

The garden is located at the interface between the nursing home, the nursery, and the Cothan, promoting social and intergenerational diversity and accessible via these three hubs. From the basement, this part of the garden, designed as a “promenade,” allows access to the upper garden via gentle ramps, traversing a more varied and wooded terrain.

The upper garden includes activity areas such as a playground, a pétanque court, and the possibility of creating small communal vegetable plots, alternating with quieter spaces highlighted by the central grassy area and the water feature.

The goals of making individuals feel at home, keeping their minds and senses active, maintaining physical movement, and fostering social life are achieved through the landscaping, which also encourages contact with nature. The vegetation punctuates the surroundings to create both open and enclosed spaces.

The project complies with current PMR legislation (CWATUPE Art 414 and 415). The flooring will be treated with non-slip and adequately even surfaces. Rest points, such as benches or seating areas, are regularly placed along the pedestrian pathways.

The selection of woody plants, hedges, and shrubs will follow the Walloon Government decree (M.B. 19/02/2008), complemented by the planting of grasses and perennials chosen to stimulate the senses. While the trees are not specifically native, they have been selected for their varied forms and their evolving colors throughout the seasons.