VISUALISATION TOOL

CHALLENGE & SELECTION

The tool I chose to work with is the visualisation tool. The challenge is to transform a space  of heritage into contemporary use, spatially. The site chosen is Chiran Samurai Residence  Garden in Japan. The Chiran Samurai District has a combination of former residences for the  elite warrior class of feudal Japan, as well as seven traditional gardens for visitors to explore.  Repurposing it as a well-planned retirement home where the elderly can feel comfortable and  secure can provide a new lease to their life. A retirement home is a place where people of  similar age group live together as a family/community. Historically, senior care was confined  to old age homes that were generally meant for destitute or abandoned elders and were run as  charitable institutions. Creating a well-planned retirement home where the elderly can feel  comfortable and secure can provide a new lease to their life. Seniors need to live a life filled  with independence, freedom, security and dignity. So by creating an environment that would  encourage them to experience things that have been an integral part of their life, at the same  time enjoy moments that they may have missed out in life as they were busy fulfilling their  responsibilities would really add to their last stage of life.

APPLICATION

I have used visualisation to make diagrams which represent the space planning and sketch out  different areas within the space. Along with that a set of questions for interviewing my target  group will help me gain greater insights. The target group chosen is elderly people. This tool  is chosen keeping in mind the target group as they would be able to make greater sense of  something that is provided to them as a visual rather than something in text form.

I started out by creating an overall visual of the whole space- diving it into zones for different  activities- residence, places of recreation, services, residence for the staff etc (refer to image  01). Then I moved onto interviewing my target group to gain a better understanding of what  their needs and requirements are and what they aspire to have in their homes or around them.  The questions were based a lot on their needs, the kind of assistance they required, the basic  facilities they needed, what they wish to have, the kind of living they would want. Along with  this I studied different case studies of retirement homes to be able to do better space planning  and incorporate all needs of the elderly. After having interviewed, I sketched out different  areas within the space to take into account different needs. (refer to image 02 and 03)

Later, the visuals were shown to all respondents of the interviews for them to gain a better  understanding of what the space will look like visually. Copies of sketches and visuals were  given to each respondent in the form of printed sheets. Further I took their responses on  whether they felt something was missing, something needed to be changed, or something

needed to be eliminated. Overall the performance of the tool turned out to be effective for  both, the user and myself.

Image 01- Visualisation of the retirement home

Image 02                                                                           Image 03

INSIGHT AND APPROACH:

The visualisation tool made it easier for my target group to imagine what the space would  look like. Taking my target group into consideration- because they were elderly, I think the  visualisation tool was the perfect one to gain insights and for them to understand. It made it  easier for them to grasp things rather than reading/ writing tools. They were able to quickly  gain insights and make connections and relations between two or multiple things. They were  also able to identify the missing elements in the space as soon as I showed them the visuals,  rather than taking a lot of time. These quick responses gave me ideas on where I could  perform a better design understanding.

Since this tool turned out to be pretty effective, it is great to get one’s hand on. And  personally for me, since I am a design student, it will come in handy to start out any design  related assignments.


VISUALISATION TOOL CHALLENGE & SELECTION The tool I chose to work with is the visualisation tool . The challenge is to transform a space of heritage into contemporary use , spatially . The site chosen is Chiran Samurai Residence Garden in Japan . The Chiran Samurai District has a combination of former residences for the elite warrior class of feudal Japan , as well as seven traditional gardens for visitors to explore . Repurposing it as a well - planned retirement home where the elderly can feel comfortable and secure can provide a new lease to their life . A retirement home is a place where people of similar age group live together as a family / community . Historically , senior care was confined to old age homes that were generally meant for destitute or abandoned elders and were run as charitable institutions . Creating a well - planned retirement home where the elderly can feel comfortable and secure can provide a new lease to their life . Seniors need to live a life filled with independence , freedom , security and dignity . So by creating an environment that would encourage them to experience things that have been an integral part of their life , at the same time enjoy moments that they may have missed out in life as they were busy fulfilling their responsibilities would really add to their last stage of life . APPLICATION I have used visualisation to make diagrams which represent the space planning and sketch out different areas within the space . Along with that a set of questions for interviewing my target group will help me gain greater insights . The target group chosen is elderly people . This tool is chosen keeping in mind the target group as they would be able to make greater sense of something that is provided to them as a visual rather than something in text form . I started out by creating an overall visual of the whole space- diving it into zones for different activities- residence , places of recreation , services , residence for the staff etc ( refer to image 01 ) . Then I moved onto interviewing my target group to gain a better understanding of what their needs and requirements are and what they aspire to have in their homes or around them . The questions were based a lot on their needs , the kind of assistance they required , the basic facilities they needed , what they wish to have , the kind of living they would want . Along with this I studied different case studies of retirement homes to be able to do better space planning and incorporate all needs of the elderly . After having interviewed , I sketched out different areas within the space to take into account different needs . ( refer to image 02 and 03 ) Later , the visuals were shown to all respondents of the interviews for them to gain a better understanding of what the space will look like visually . Copies of sketches and visuals were given to each respondent in the form of printed sheets . Further I took their responses on whether they felt something was missing , something needed to be changed , or something needed to be eliminated . Overall the performance of the tool turned out to be effective for both , the user and myself . Image 01- Visualisation of the retirement home Image 02 Image 03 INSIGHT AND APPROACH : The visualisation tool made it easier for my target group to imagine what the space would look like . Taking my target group into consideration- because they were elderly , I think the visualisation tool was the perfect one to gain insights and for them to understand . It made it easier for them to grasp things rather than reading/ writing tools . They were able to quickly gain insights and make connections and relations between two or multiple things . They were also able to identify the missing elements in the space as soon as I showed them the visuals , rather than taking a lot of time . These quick responses gave me ideas on where I could perform a better design understanding . Since this tool turned out to be pretty effective , it is great to get one ’s hand on . And personally for me , since I am a design student , it will come in handy to start out any design related assignments .