The Architectural Use of Disorder. The Group Home in Noboribetsu

The 21st century norm is represented by people living longer, and Japan, in particular, is the country with the world’s oldest population. This new demographic structure creates a number of societal challenges. One such challenge is that living longer and becoming old increases the likelihood of acquiring long-term conditions such as dementia. Another challenge is with the difficulties in defining a clear line between normal ageing and pathological ageing; a blurred distinction leads to stigmatizing older adults as a social and economic burden. Therefore, there is a need for a care model shift which is able to cope with a potential increase in a demand for high-dependency and high-cost services and also address stigmatization. Importantly, older adults’ mental and physical well-being should have a central role in this ‘shift’. A robust and productive relationship between people and space, and well-being can have a positive impact. Of course, this shift has inevitable architectural repercussions. Taking this into account, the aim of this paper is to explore critically the Group Home in Noboribetsu designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects. The investigation of this the case study is based on analytical tools, which are borrowed from a one-time post-occupancy evaluation framework (i.e. semi-structured interviews and behavioural mappings). These are organized into three parts defined as ‘thinking, making and living.’ The method and collected data reveal the principles for conceiving a work of architecture, which is grounded in the notion of “social practice.” Consequently, a new design pattern and thereby of care are revealed, which are built around cultural concepts and a participatory and coherent collaborative team-work. The Group Home in Noboribetsu addresses both a new architectural design and a new care model, which support a “disorder.” This promotes a genuine displacement in occupants’ daily life that normalises ageing and tears down personal and socio-economic stigma.