How would you remake iconic spaces to support older adults’ quality of life? Three design teams will have the opportunity to work their creative magic as The Villa Challenge continues this summer.
The challenge invited students, professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives from the community to help imagine innovative purposes for unused spaces in the historic Villa Hotel — once a well-known entertainment venue and now home to The Villa at San Mateo.
Three teams will present their creative proposals to a panel of judges in August. The Panel will include Carole Groom, a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. In addition, a resident of The Villa at San Mateo will serve on the panel. Finalists will then present to the Elder Care Alliance Board of Directors in September. The winning team will receive a cash prize, and the creative efforts will be highlighted throughout Elder Care Alliance social media platforms in October.
The teams that will present their ideas include:
· Burlingame Architectural Design (BAD)
· Architecture Duos
· Wellness Factor
Breaking Boundaries
The teams competing in The Villa Challenge include a minimum of two people and will propose design updates that align with the mission and vision of The Villa at San Mateo and Elder Care Alliance. The proposals will feature elements that help support inclusion of older adults while also meshing with the current design at The Villa at San Mateo.
At one time, the spaces to be considered in The Villa Challenge served as banquet, entertainment and culinary venues during the prime of the iconic Villa Hotel in the 1950s. Many members of the community may recognize those spaces from events they have attended. The spaces now await creative redesigns to support their use and enjoyment by older adults.
Rosemary Jordan, vice president of business development and strategy for Elder Care Alliance, notes the organization’s mission of supporting older adults in living comfortably and independently. The Villa Challenge reinforces the commitment by Elder Care Alliance to encourage collaboration in creating inclusive spaces.
At the site of the former Villa Hotel, The Villa at San Mateo now offers a vibrant living environment to adults 55 and older. Just minutes from community amenities that include dining, shopping and local attractions, The Villa at San Mateo, an Elder Care Alliance community, offers a variety of on-campus programming and features to support a holistic approach to well-being for older adults.
We look forward to seeing the creative ideas from our teams in The Villa Challenge!
Source: The Villa at San Mateo
