In Bærum, Norway’s First Dementia Village Carpe Diem Offers a New Model of Care
Norway's first dementia village is open. Designed by Nordic Office of Architecture, Carpe Diem opened in Bærum, outside Oslo, a decade after Norway's 2015 Dementia Plan. The 18,000 sq m wooden-clad complex houses 158 residents in 17 apartments around a garden square. Sensory design—textured walls, carpets, paving stones, hundreds of plants—aids wayfinding as memory fades, says Camilla Heier Anglero. Amenities include a pub, supermarket, gym, tiki bar and boat workshop, paid via preloaded cards. The model follows De Hogeweyk, opened in the Netherlands in 2009. Residents cover 75–85% of costs through state pensions. With 10 million new cases yearly, projected to triple by 2050, such villages reduce carer burnout.
Key facts
- Carpe Diem is Norway's first dementia village, located in Bærum, outside Oslo.
- The village was designed by Nordic Office of Architecture, with healthcare design lead Camilla Heier Anglero.
- It opened a decade after Norway's 2015 Dementia Plan.
- The complex covers 18,000 sq m and includes 158 bedrooms across 17 apartments around a garden square.
- Sensory design features include textured walls, carpets, paving stones, and hundreds of plants to aid wayfinding.
- Facilities include a pub, hairdresser, supermarket, gym, tiki bar, and boat workshop.
- Residents cover 75–85% of costs from state pensions.
- The concept is inspired by De Hogeweyk in the Netherlands, which opened in 2009.
Entities
Artists
- Camilla Heier Anglero
Institutions
- De Hogeweyk
- Nordic Office of Architecture
- Carpe Diem
- Norwegian Government
Locations
- Oslo
- Norway
- Bærum
- Netherlands
Sources
- Monocle —