By DAISY SAMPSON [email protected]
Development in the Algarve has been focused for many years on touristic complexes and golf resorts.
However, award-winning architect Hans Schirmacher sees a new future for the region with his latest retirement village project being an example of this.
Hans has designed Monte Tranquilo, a gated community behind the Carvoeiro Clube de Ténis comprising 56 two-bedroom apartments especially designed to meet the needs of older residents looking to permanently retire to the Algarve.
Carvoeiro-based Hans Schirmacher told the Algarve Resident: “The two-bedroom apartments have all been designed to be wheelchair accessible but we did not want them to look like an institution and have made the design subtle.”
He added: “All the apartments have two identical en suite rooms, self-contained rooms mean that a carer could easily move into one of the rooms or in the event that a resident may find themselves living alone the apartments have also been designed for sharing.”
Hans Schirmacher has thought of every aspect that could be important to retired residents and has also incorporated his own design philosophies including planted roofs to help keep properties warm in winter and cool in summer while being sympathetic to the natural surroundings.
“The concept is to create a safe and secure environment for residents to meet all their needs as they grow older and their needs change,” he said.
Central to the village would be the medical centre and reception: “This area would again be fully accessible for wheelchairs with the ground floor being used for management of the village and as a communal area for residents to be able to meet and mix. Upstairs would be the medical centre with individual rooms for doctors and areas for physiotherapy and complementary medicine.”
The project has been designed to be a complete environment for retired residents and an area known as the “sanctuary” would make the most of the natural elements found on the site.
“We have some beautiful indigenous trees on the plot and we would integrate these into an area of sanctuary for residents complete with a lake to attract local wildlife, wooden walk ways, a Zen chapel and an area to sit and read,” said Hans Schirmacher.
Plans for Monte Tranquilo have been drawn up by Hans and his team at Arquimodem with initial approvals for the project expected to be given by the end of the year.
For further information, please call 282 357 949 or visit www.arquimodem.eu (available in English).
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