“Imagination creates possibilities,” reads the title on page 52 and 53 of a design catalog in full

Ikea style. And yet, this publication goes by the name Hack Care, taking the signature
of Lekker Architects and Lanzavecchia + Wai, who, in collaboration with the Lien
Foundation (an organization based in Singapore whose goal is to inspire social change and
improve the lives of the elderly and children with special needs), have realized a design
manual to provide tips, advice, and suggestions to create a dementia-friendly home
supporting those affected by Alzheimer’s. After all, the home is the most intimate and
private space — the space in which we feel the most protected — and it should respond to our
needs.
The manual includes 50 tricks and just as many stories to help those facing the daily
challenges of caregiving — establishing the home as the first step towards assistance and
comfort. Here, the publication takes a do-it-yourself stance, encouraging and creating a
domestic world studied to place people at ease, where old-age can be a period to live in
peace. All the designs present a line of useful products for taking care of the elderly with which
the professionals at the Brahm Centre and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore work with,
sharing some of their fundamental techniques for managing the sick.
The catalog was launched in September, during the worldwide Alzheimer’s month. “Living with
dementia is daunting and our everyday home environments do not always anticipate or meet
the unique needs of people battling cognitive and physical frailty. These challenges can be
mitigated with good design that is functional, inspirational and accessible, and shaped by
the shared experiences of caregivers who have been on a similar journey,” says Lee Poh
Wah, CEO of the Lien Foundation.
We often talk about and write about how important design is to facilitating day to day life. And it
really is. Beyond the aesthetic lies functionality and from a binary relationship, beauty is
created to simplify everyday tasks. Hack Care is a project full of new ideas, for those who
administer and those who seek care. It’s pret-à-porter design to flip through online, embracing
independence, autonomy, and affection.