The focus of this research project is the design of closed collective cohabitation units for people in need of some kind of support/care, the parameters included in this designing process and, furthermore, the evaluation of how a human being experiences, interacts and is influenced by buildings in conditions of social restriction. More specifically, this research studies the spaces of orphanages, nursing homes and hospitals as building units where people receive special treatment/care. With regard to the above, the orphanage and the nursing home of Volos, the communal spaces of a hospital to a lesser extent, as well as some other modern examples are examined.

The objective of this project is to highlight the aspects of collective housing in relation to specific age groups, the different needs for care of each age group, how these needs translate to spaces and what are the typological characteristics that facilitate the residents’ living both as units and as a group.

The focal point on the functions and final configuration of any building unit is the resident and, for this purpose, the contribution of architecture should be to provide solutions for care spaces that serve the resident’s needs. The study of architectural design and care in collective housing is quite substantial and, unfortunately, has not been applied enough, or appropriately, in Greece so far.

In order to better evaluate the conditions inside the buildings of this study, it was deemed necessary to visit them in person. After recording the personal experiences of familiar people, the imprinting of the buildings, the apposition of sketches and photographs, significant conclusions were drawn regarding designing. These conclusions, along with the study of some interesting counterexamples, have formed a series of parameters and criteria regarding the optimal design of the collective residences under discussion.