You are standing in front of the bathroom basin, wanting to wash your hands. You know that turning the lever in one direction will provide cold water and the other hot. But you can’t remember which way is which and you can’t see what colours are on the tap. Pushing the lever left and up, you thrust your hands into the flow of water. Instantly, the room around you turns red and noises blare. You’ve badly burnt your hands in the hot water.

This is just one example of how the custom integrated system stimulates the environment in which dementia suffers live. Specialist lighting and sound systems integrate with the sophisticated educational program and the 6m long projection wall. In the experience, when you ‘turn on the tap’ the room switches instantly to a scalding red environment - complete with vari-coloured lighting and warning alarms.

The training space is the focal point of the fit-out at the Alzheimers Australia (Vic) headquarters. Of course, the room can be used for a wide range of purposes but it’s key purpose is the immersive experiental space.

Completed in 2013, FPPV Architecture worked closely with the consultant team and Alzheimers Australia (Vic) to develop the Virtual Dementia Experience and associated spaces, which included a new reception and waiting area, staff spaces and consult rooms.

The space incorporates dementia friendly design throughout, and includes an interactive sensory perception space with state-of-the-art simulation technology. Colour changing LED lights, highly specified acoustic isolation and internal acoustic performance facilitates a highly controlled sensory environment. The sensory “scenario” is designed and manipulated from a separate operation room with audio visual connection to the sensory space. Equipment is concealed in blacked out ceiling over floating acoustic discs which are white but affected by blue hues of lighting design.

The VDE, using a simulation created by Alzheimers Australia Vic in collaboration with Melbourne game developers Opaque Multimedia, has been awarded the International 2014 Asia Pacific Information Communications and Technology Alliance (APICTA) Award for Education E-Learning, the National iAward in Education Category 2014, and the gold medal at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards 2015, for excellence in person, family and community-centred care.