St. Ignatius Solarium and Garden

Indoor-Outdoor Connections Tight Site  Urban Oasis  Wellness Design

As part of a multi-phased re-invention of the St. Ignatius Nursing and Rehab Center, a  key directive was to improve resident access to the outdoors.  The vision was to create an outdoor experience that would be available and accessible to all residents, without any barriers.

This tight, urban site posed many challenges.  Working closely with Jack Carman from Design for Generations, a plan was developed that excavated a significant portion of their sloping site, while keeping existing large trees at the perimeter and created a larger garden that is flat enough to be easy to navigate.  The garden contains a looping path with multiple points of interest, places to stop and sit along the way, as well as areas for larger activities or outdoor dining.  The walking paths are made with a rubber paving product which provides a seamless path that is easy to navigate with mobility devices and provides a softer surface than asphalt while still minimizing glare that would come from plain concrete paths.

Fabric sails were added to provide shade and visual interest to the space, while still allowing light and air to circulate.  These sails help to define an area where tables are set up when the community hosts its annual resident bar-be-cue and celebration.

A large solarium was also added to create a place for residents to experience the feeling of being outdoors, year round. This new room and the garden truly create an urban oasis, accessible to all.