Summer is here. Your residents will be spending more time outside, and prospects will be looking at what amenities they’ll enjoy when they move in. It’s not too late to make some changes and additions to create the most beautiful, lush, comfortable, and functional outdoor spaces for everyone.

Let’s start with the hot trends. “We’re seeing more integration of smaller, intimate areas for outdoor sitting and recreation for small groups,” says Darren Azdell, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, “During COVID, communities immediately had to find areas for small group meetings, and they did a great deal of retrofitting for outdoor, shaded/covered seating areas. This demonstrated how underutilized exterior spaces often are.” At the same time, Darren says, people got used to using outdoor spaces for dining and entertaining; and this isn’t likely to change.

Indoor to Outdoors

The pandemic not only made it more challenging for people to get out for meals and groceries. It also increased people’s interest in growing their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. As a result, there is more interest than ever in indoor hydroponics. This is a way to grow a variety of fresh vegetables and plants year around in small spaces. There are some interesting innovations in this area, says Darren, including hanging hydroponic systems for lettuce and other vegetables. These are particularly useful in places where space is limited.

In memory care, Darren says, “We are doing things to help residents feel like their outdoors without actually leaving the building. These include patio settings with landscaping and LED lighting. In settings of all types, he says, “Sunrooms are important and allow residents to transition from indoors to outdoors.”

Green walls, vertical structures that have various types of plants or other greenery attached, have gained attention in recent months. In addition to the visual appeal, they also act as extra insulation and reduce noise levels. However, Darren cautions that these are hard to maintain. He suggests there are other ways to bring greenery inside. For instance, he noted that some communities are creating garden rooms – indoor/outdoor spaces where landscaping elements and plants can be used to create visual barriers. These offer the benefits of indoor greenery with a little more environmental control. At the same time, Darren says, “We’ve done some faux green walls with a biophilic feel.”

Innovations for the Great Outdoors

Residents expect things like grill spaces and fire pits around a pool area, says Charla Goss, director of interior design at Pi. “I just installed a project where the community wraps around the pool and grilling area, and it’s a focal point of the community.” Pi recently designed a community in Colorado with seating against the building in front of a firepit with the mountains the background. “These breathtaking amenities make a community stand out and attract residents,” she says.

Charla adds, “There also is talk about including amphitheaters in communities. There is a growing interest in creating spaces to enable outdoor entertainment and performances.” Residents enjoyed outdoor concerts and even movies during the pandemic. Expect residents to want a variety of options for where and how they engage in entertainment and cultural activities.

Outdoor spaces need to be safe for seniors, including those who may have some physical limitations. This means elements such as railing and seating along paths and trails, as well as lighting and smooth walking surfaces. At the same time, seniors don’t want to be reminded of their limitations, so these elements need to be aesthetically pleasing and blend in well with the environment, Charla stresses.

Beautiful and functional outdoor spaces contribute significantly to residents’ quality of life and even their health. They get physical exercise from activities such as gardening, walks, and fruit picking. They also can get some mental stimulation from bird watching, photography, and other efforts.

It’s not too late for the best summer ever for you and your residents. Contact us here and let us share ideas for innovative, breathtaking, functional landscape design.

Contact us here or call us at 512-231-1910.

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