Academic Research - PhD Provisional Candidate
Sara is currently pursuing a PhD in dementia-enabling design with completion targeted for 2030. This academic pursuit actively informs her practice, creating a continuous feedback loop between research, design application, and evaluation.
Her research focuses on identifying optimum layouts and spatial efficiencies in Special Care Units (SCUs) within comprehensive care retirement villages in New Zealand and Australia. The study examines the relationship between floor plan characteristics, spatial planning efficiencies, and specific clinical outcomes in facilities with consistent models of care.
The research aims to:
Correlate dementia-enabling design characteristics with clinical outcomes such as falls frequency, distressed behaviors, and nutritional status
Assess the impact of spatial planning factors on resident wellbeing
Identify optimal sizes and layouts that support positive clinical outcomes while maintaining operational efficiency
This work addresses a critical gap in our understanding of how specialised care environments can better support people living with dementia while enabling efficient care delivery. Through quantitative analysis of existing environments, the research will create practical design resources for architects working in aged care.
By bridging research and practice, Sara brings evidence-based insights directly to her client projects, ensuring designs are informed by the latest understanding of environment-behavior relationships in aged care settings.
This research positions The Village Architect at the forefront of innovative design approaches for specialised care environments, creating a strong foundation for evidence-based practice.
