The treatment of people with dementia through nature. A hospitality centre for people with dementia in the old monastery of "St. George Mormoris" in the settlement of Nerokuros, Chania
Το work with title The treatment of people with dementia through nature. A hospitality centre for people with dementia in the old monastery of "St. George Mormoris" in the settlement of Nerokuros, Chania by Arvanitidou-Lykoka Kleopatra, Frangedaki Evdokia is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Bibliographic Citation
Kleopatra Arvanitidou-Lykoka, Evdokia Frangedaki, "The treatment of people with dementia through nature. A hospitality centre for people with dementia in the old monastery of "St. George Mormoris" in the settlement of Nerokuros, Chania
", Diploma Work, School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece, 2025
https://doi.org/10.26233/heallink.tuc.103720
This thesis proposes the adaptive reuse and extension of the historic monastery in Nerokourou, transforming it into a modern nursing home for people with dementia. Elderly visitors have the option to stay either temporarily or permanently, receiving care, meals, and participating in creative workshops and excursions. The extension of the monastery includes patient wards, with each building unit corresponding to a different stage of dementia. All sections include communal spaces and ensure direct contact with nature, encouraging exploration of the outdoor areas. The former monks’ cells are repurposed to accommodate volunteers who assist in the care and support of patients throughout the day. Patients who are able may participate in the agricultural development of the surrounding land, with the produce being used in the restaurant housed in the old olive mill, which is preserved as both a historical and functional element of the complex. The architectural proposal is based on the use of natural materials, such as rammed earth for infilling the structural framework, and wooden elements in the interior of the wards, aiming for a harmonious integration into the landscape and the enhancement of the human connection with the natural environment.