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Retain heritage structures to serve as familiar, recognizable, and prominent landmarks in people’s mental map of the neighbourhood. Heritage structures often include distinctive elements and human-scaled details at the ground-level, which improve the street experience for people living with dementia.
Retain heritage structures as landmarks
1.3.1
The Dominion building in Vancouver, built in 1910. Photo: Xicotencatl/ Wikimedia Commons
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Highlight important community buildings through distinctive architectural design.
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Include various forms of buildings in new developments so that they are distinct.
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Use local materials, colours, and styles.
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Avoid monotonous glass buildings with no distinguishing features.
Create distinctive buildings to serve as landmarks
1.3.2
Science World is a recognizable building along the waterfront in Vancouver. Photo: Another Believer/ Wikimedia Commons
Building forms impact pedestrian experience and wayfinding. People living with dementia benefit from varied building forms, which help them recognize where they are and contribute to a unique sense of place.
Strategy 1.3
Building form
Landmarks are really helpful. I find that in Vancouver the buildings are very similar. Some of the buildings look identical, even ones right next to each other or three blocks from each other. So that can be very confusing.
DemSCAPE Project participant
Actions under this strategy:
Dementia-inclusive principles:
Familiar: Maintaining heritage buildings and long-established places helps with wayfinding.
Distinct: Varied buildings make it easier to navigate and create a sense of place.