STORY - "The Ministry of Architecture"
By Tracey Edstein

Winston Churchill is credited with claiming that we shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us.

Geoff Troup from Suters Architects Newcastle

The convenor of CRASH (Construction Industry Relief and Assistance for Sydney's Homeless) Col James believes that architects should work for the anonymous clients, people who don't have a voice ... That's where I thought architects could make a difference (Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2003).

In the opinion of Geoff Troup of Suters Architects, the people who stay in architecture are almost entirely motivated by the difference they can make.

Each of these observations offers an insight into the enormous potential of the ministry of architecture in the third millennium.

In medieval times, stone masons, sculptors and other craftsmen used their gifts in the service of the church, sometimes over several generations. The soaring cathedrals they built are still sacred sites and gathering places for worship.

Today, despite the loss of painstaking curlicues and easily identified architectural styles of old, the ministry of architecture is alive and well.

For a young man, Geoff Troup has a real understanding of the needs of older members of the community. Since 1988 he has worked primarily in the area of aged care. Geoff played a crucial role in the design of special care units for residents with dementia at CCA's (Catholic Care of the Aged) Nazareth Village, Belmont North and St Francis Village, Eleebana.

Dementia affects about one in ten people aged over 60. According to CCA's Residential Care Manager, Sue Oakey, "As our population ages the incidence of dementia increases; hence the real need for organisations like CCA to ensure that we are poised to care for these people in the future."

So what role does the architect play in the provision of appropriate care?

While he is quick to acknowledge that the paramount component in the care offered is the qualities brought by the staff, he is enlightening on the topic of strategies to promote both the safety and dignity of the residents. There is always a need to balance form and function, and sometimes compromise is necessary.

Like most fields, architecture has its jargon. "Tactile indicators" are subtle cues to warn, for example, of a change in level underfoot or to provide directional cues. I was reminded, somewhat disconcertingly, of Peter Weir's The Truman Show where the hapless Truman is directed, oh so subtly, in every area of his life. However, as Geoff pointed out, a certain benevolent control is unavoidable in order to safeguard residents, physically and emotionally.

Other ways of achieving this include the choice of soothing (but not bland) colour schemes. The provision of 'wandering paths' that allow for uninterrupted travel within the facility is another means of reducing frustration and cultivating a sense of purpose. A light which remains on over the toilet (or one that is triggered by a movement sensor) is a cue when a resident wakes in the middle of the night. This is a simple measure but for those with continence difficulties it can be a boon.

While Truman-style surveillance does not occur, there is a variety of strategies to ensure that assistance is quickly available when needed. For example, alerts sent to pagers worn by the staff quickly and discreetly provide warnings of residents requiring attention, without disturbing the environment of the remainder.

As Geoff says, "How can we best operate without intruding on the privacy and freedom of the residents? There's always a balance and it's a difficult balance.

"Obviously the ideal design for visual supervision would be a hub with everything radiating from the centre but the problem is that it would have a very institutional feel - it's not a very homelike environment."

What CCA has tried to achieve, working with a team of consultants and practitioners, is a fine balance in addressing economic reality and the needs of a social group.

Geoff Troup is sharply attuned to the fact that the clientele of facilities like Nazareth and St Francis Villages is changing constantly and today's services may not satisfy tomorrow's residents. He feels that the generation that routinely built four bedroom homes and more will be looking for spacious and stylish care facilities with plenty of privacy!

The professionalism and genuine interest of people like Sue Oakey and Geoff Troup can give us all confidence in the level of care that CCA provides. If Churchill was right, the lives of the aged members of our diocesan community are being gently and benevolently shaped.

Tracey Edstein

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