Design Strategies for Elderly Care Homes in Zanjan with an Emphasis on Comprehensive Physical, Psychological, and Social Health and Adaptation to the Cold-Dry Climate and Local Culture

Abstract

This study aimed to develop an integrated architectural framework for designing elderly care homes in Zanjan by simultaneously promoting residents’ physical, psychological, and social health and adapting the residential environment to the region’s climatic and cultural conditions. This applied study employed a descriptive-analytical and design-oriented approach. Relevant evidence concerning aging, environmental psychology, universal design, biophilic architecture, sustainable design, and long-term care environments was reviewed and synthesized. The cold-dry climatic characteristics of Zanjan, local architectural patterns, older adults’ physical and perceptual requirements, accessibility standards, indoor environmental quality, privacy needs, and patterns of social interaction were also analyzed. The theoretical and contextual findings were subsequently integrated and translated into physical, functional, climatic, environmental, and culturally responsive design criteria. The analyses indicated that promoting comprehensive health among older adults requires a transition from institutional and hospital-like facilities toward a “health-promoting home-neighborhood” model. Organizing the complex into small residential clusters, establishing a gradual hierarchy from private to public spaces, designing short and legible circulation routes, eliminating physical barriers, providing controlled daylight, ensuring direct access to nature, and creating communal spaces at different scales demonstrated the greatest potential for enhancing independence, reducing anxiety, promoting mobility, and facilitating social interaction. Compact building forms, southern orientation, thermal insulation, buffer zones, winter gardens, and wind-protected courtyards were identified as the most effective climatic responses. Furthermore, the contemporary reinterpretation of courtyards, verandas, local materials, and spaces for traditional and cultural activities was found to strengthen place identity, familiarity, and residents’ sense of belonging. Elderly care homes in Zanjan should be designed through an integrated relationship among health promotion, climatic responsiveness, and cultural continuity. Combining human-centered design, universal accessibility, passive climatic strategies, therapeutic natural environments, and locally meaningful architectural elements can create a safe, empowering, emotionally supportive, and socially active setting. Such an environment enables older adults to maintain dignity, autonomy, meaningful participation, and continuity of everyday life rather than experiencing institutionalized care.