Avandell advances a new vision for memory care inspired by The Hogeweyk, the pioneering dementia village internationally recognized for replacing institutional care with quotidian community life. Perkins Eastman’s Missing Main Street research grew directly out of an in-depth study of what makes Hogeweyk successful, identifying 11 replicable patterns that support normalcy, autonomy, legibility, and community engagement. Avandell translates these patterns within a US context, adapting them through research, client collaboration, and an understanding of the dementia patient’s lived experience.

At the heart of the design is a clear principle: structure provides confidence, and variation restores individuality. Avandell’s small houses share consistent footprints, short walking distances, and simple, recognizable thresholds to help residents navigate with ease. Within this framework, layers of personalization—customizable room alcoves, flexible living rooms, and interior themes—allow each resident and household to develop its own identity.

Fifteen houses, each with seven private apartments, are grouped into four neighborhoods shaped by agrarian, Shaker, and camp-meeting precedents. Gardens, sensory planting palettes, and small outdoor structures differentiate each neighborhood while basic paving, lighting, and circulation remain consistent. This blend of familiarity and variety echoes the rhythms of small-town life and reinforces daily independence.

Avandell’s public spaces expand its role as a community resource. The Town Center establishes a welcoming, controlled entry sequence and includes an assessment clinic supporting dementia research and family education. At the campus heart, the Activity Pavilion connects to gardens and outdoor rooms, encouraging residents to walk outside for meals, programs, and social encounters.

Across scales, Avandell creates a safe, vibrant setting where people with dementia can experience connection, independence, and purposeful engagement. By weaving together research, community input, and a nuanced understanding of daily living, Avandell offers a replicable model for person-centered memory care in the United States.