color as a cue
Kavod Terrace Memory Care | Ovation Communities
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Zimmerman Architectural Studios introduced the idea of using color to help residents recognize individual room entrances. We brought that concept into the space through the fabrication and installation of illuminated resin panels.
Designing for Recognition
In a memory care setting, familiar cues can help make a space easier to recognize. Ovation wanted each resident room to have a doorway panel that residents could identify as their own. We approached the entrances as a series of individual markers, bringing color and artwork into the corridor as part of the environment.
Color with a Purpose
Spolar Studio developed the panels using eight epoxy resin colors. The colors were cut and arranged across the 16 resident rooms so that the same color wouldn’t appear in neighboring doorways. This variation gives each entrance its own visual character and offers residents a color cue as they move through the corridor.
Light Through Resin
Illuminated from behind, the resin panels bring a soft glow to the room entrances. Light reveals the depth and movement of the color within the material, making each panel both a piece of artwork and a recognizable feature in the hallway.
A More Personal Corridor
Together, the panels create a sequence of colorful landmarks within the memory care community. Their purpose is practical, but they also contribute to the art-filled, welcoming environment Ovation envisioned for residents. Ovation describes Kavod Terrace as a sensory-stimulating community enriched by music and the arts.
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Material Carried Forward
The resin work continued beyond the memory care panels. Cutoffs, run-offs, and remaining colors were saved and used in other projects for Ovation, including awards and mezuzahs. Material from one project found new forms across the community.
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