“A village has a clearly defined perimeter that delineates what is built from what is unbuilt, what is city and what is landscape, what is urban and what is rural.” -George Signori, project architect The Village at Mary’s Woods expands the existing retirement community in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Complementing the character of the main historic 1910 Provincial House, The Village at Mary’s Woods comprises nine buildings that create a European village feel. Inspired by the architecture of Spain, Sweden, Germany, and Italy, our design draws on traditional European village life for our architectural design. Our overall design concept centers on the idea of social interaction, strongly encouraging seniors to leave their buildings and gain all the benefits of time outdoors, right on campus. Positioned on the undeveloped southwest field of the Mary’s Woods campus, our master plan supports plenty of green space, honoring the serenity of the site’s natural surroundings and using plants indigenous to the Northwest. Living units overlook the community greenspace, where residents can play bocce ball, host various parties, and enjoy the lush greenery and large yard with visiting families. Four buildings in the eastern portion of the site provide a total of 198 units of congregate-care independent living. All residents will have access to both formal and casual dining—five different dining rooms. The campus also has shared vegetable and flower gardens, a separate residence with 48 units of assisted living, and numerous amenity spaces for hobbies, events, and socializing. The Village also includes three buildings with commercial space for retail services, a restaurant, and a wellness facility that create a town square on the western edge of the property. We thoughtfully connect the landscaping with the buildings, creating an almost processional layout that communicates comfort and intuitive navigability. Drawn from the centuries-old practice of using a tower to signify an important civic space, a campanile denotes the Village Square as a place of public importance. By code, the building height was capped at 35 feet, but our design proposed a 65-foot tower. So we scoured city codes and, finding an exception for belfry towers, were not only able to include the tower but add a carillon that plays each hour. This height gave the tower the stunning visual effect we were looking for.