How can a simple handrail become a place for rest, recognition and social interaction?
This challenge, developed together with Woonzorg Nederland, asked Bucky Lab students to rethink the often anonymous corridors of senior housing. While these spaces primarily serve circulation, they also offer opportunities for orientation, personal expression and encounters between residents. The team responded with FriendlyFrame, a multifunctional handrail system that transforms an everyday building element into a platform for comfort and community.
The design combines support, seating and personalization within a single modular system. Residents can attach small planters, photographs or personal objects, allowing them to express their identity while contributing to a more welcoming and recognizable living environment. The integrated leaning and resting elements create opportunities for spontaneous conversations and encourage people to pause rather than simply pass through.
Throughout the design process, the team explored different modular configurations, connection details and manufacturing strategies. Initial concepts consisting of multiple components gradually evolved into a cleaner and more robust frame. During the building weeks, the students tested PVC bending techniques, wall connections and lean-bench concepts before arriving at the final prototype. The resulting solution balances functionality, aesthetics and material efficiency while remaining adaptable to a variety of residential settings.
FriendlyFrame demonstrates how a small architectural intervention can contribute to wellbeing, orientation and social cohesion, helping transform corridors from anonymous passageways into spaces that feel more like home.
Students: Bertalan Iván, Liza Sengers, Karina Sultan, Dwayne van Gorkom and Tessa Zijl
Supervisors: Dr.-Ing. Marcel Bilow and Ir. Nadia Remmerswaal
Client and Sponsor: Woonzorg Nederland
Course: Bucky Lab, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft
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