1. Projects Review
Please focus on the analysis of the characteristics of each project. If there are professional terms, please explain appropriately.
Cases are too simple and repetitive. Need more interesting cases like:
Multi-generational housing that mixes 60+ with younger families—These are often single person households with small children.
The Santa Clara Accessory Housing effort and also the development of a mixed family prototype called Next Gen that is designed to combine A 1000 and 1500 SF house into one “conjoined” unit. It allows the elderly to live in a separate unit connected to the “family unit”.
2. Trending and Best Architectural projects for Ageing Population
I don’t know why there is this subtitle. It refers to something that previous cases have already covered. So what’s the difference between this and the first part? I think you wanted to accomplish the requirement of RESPONSE TO OUTLINE 3. But please make sure don’t use trivial and repetitive examples.
3. Conclusion
Please revise a little to keep the content coherent.
—
Architectural Design for The Aging Population
Introduction
The architectural world is ever evolving. It is frequently forced to adjust to every change that occurs within its environment and surrounding. Some of the most common factors that influence the transformation of architectural practices include technology, social factors, and economic issues. Architecture is also affected by factors such as government policies as well as trends in social housing. Over the years, urban planners have been pre- occupied with coming up with designs and ideas befitting an “aging in place.” According to the structure of the current population, the aging demographic in the society has increased due to the low birth rate resulting from increasing use of family planning. Further, the elderly people continue to express discomfort over the current retirement house designs. Therefore, this has been a major area of concern for architectural planners. According to Georgiev (17), developing adaptable housing for the elderly has been the only path to sustainability and promoting handicapped accessibility. The best architectural design for the aging population is the design that focuses on the mobility of the elderly, remodeling of homes for the elderly, lighting and color designs, and coordination. The AIA design for aging is a knowledge community that Helps in promoting innovation and disseminating information concerning designs for the aging population. This paper seeks to review various designs for an aging population and the need for good design concerning the needs and desires of the population. The review projects discussed in this paper were done in the last 5-7 years.
Projects Review
The Sarah Wiggle-Worth’s Architectural Design is an age-friendly house design, which provides a comfortable and fit environment for the elderly, especially after retirement. The aged-proof house in London is made of up-cycled materials, for instance, the straw bales, the blueprint, the railway sleepers, and the award-winning building. All the rooms are made for the convenience of the elderly. For instance, the kitchen is made of eye-level tables which save the elderly from bending, which tends to be tiresome. According to Wiggles-Worth, any aged person can face the future with high confidence when living in the home. According to Wiggles Worth, any older person would not want to make their house turn into a hospital or a disability center since no one wants to be seen physically unfit (Rhodes, par. 4).
Figure 1: The interior of the Sarah Wiggle-Worth’s Architectural Design. (Retrieved from HTTP://www.ft.com/content/bca16112-3ecc-11ea-b84f-a62c46f39bc2)
Another ongoing project is a project undertaken by grandaunts from St. John University. The project focuses primarily on interior designs for older people suffering from various diseases and impairments. The university grandaunts developed designs that would Help people with virtual impairments and dementia, common health issues among the elderly. For three years, the students have conducted several researches about the designs and use of materials that consider social and commercial impacts (Dezeen). However, the guidepost began by recreating abandoned houses, where creativity and knowledge on building and architecture are applied. The students embrace the power of knowledge and experience, especially in transforming spaces into usable and vital spaces in the community, such as a home for the elderly. According to the re-purposing projects, students prioritized on designs and materials, especially in making the toilets.
Figure 2: Architectural design of the Saint John’s University Design Project for the Aged. (Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/11/york-st-john-interior-design-vdf-school-shows/)
Midvale, Senior Center Project, is a project for the elderly that focuses on living room designs that are comfortable and cater to the needs of the elderly, such as the Wiggles -worth project (EDA Architects). However, the project is unique and used designs that offer hospitality designs and personal fitness programs for the aged. The project uses unique building material, has a large parking area, comfortable sidewalks, acoustic, and materials that enhance sound transmission (EDA Architects). Finally, the project uses several mechanical systems and expertise that promotes auditory experiences for the aged population.
Figure 3: The Midvale, senior center project. (Retrieved from www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/midvale-senior-center.)
The Fit-City project is an architectural design project that promotes physical activities among the elderly by reducing physical health issues among the aged population. The project focuses on designing staircases that are desirable and vertical for the movement of the aged. The project undertakes designs that promote the health and well-being of the aged. For instance, it reduce cases of obesity among the elderly and respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis. The architecture considers the needs of the aged, such as people with dementia, and designs that promote unique relationships and cooperation between the elderly to avoid boredom and getting into depression.
Figure 4: Illustration of fit cities (Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikesteep/2016/06/27/can-smart-cities-improve-the-health-of-its-citizens/?sh=1db8f08d3957 )
The Restorative Public Garden in Milan, Italy is a mega project that focuses on nature and the provision of a serene and environment with a good ambiance. The project emphasizes creating urban green spaces that improve the user experience with nature and develop an upbeat, positive attitude concerning green spaces. According to a report in Italy, the increasing aging population require therapeutic green spaces and promotes the health and psychological well-being of the elderly. . The project uses co-deigns which prioritizes the relationship between the elderly and nature to organic elements.
The project promotes materials, such as bibliophile, which improves the elderly emotional state, and restores attention according to the Attention Restoration Theory (ART). The relationship and connection with nature Help in promoting the individual’s mental health and Help in relieving fatigue, which might occur due to stress or muscle strains (Fumagalli, 3166). The design architectures are inspired by Eco-Psychological Education, which creates a close relationship with nature and ecotherapy through the garden design that enhances the quality of life. The project is known to promote several aspects, ecosystem value, the prosthetic environment, and the regeneration of the place. The type of plants used in the project includes the perennial bulbous, the shrub, and the fruit tree.
Figure 5: The Restorative Public Garden in Milan, Italy (Fumagalli, 3166)
The living arrangement of older persons is critical around the world, especially for people over the age of sixty-five. Arrangement of the aged is highly associated with individuals’ well-being, health, and economic status. The arrangement differs according to the number of people in the house, for instance, the older spouse that still lives with their children or grandchildren. Multi-generational households are the best designs for organization, which promotes sustainable development goals, such as prevention of poverty and promotion of health. According to the multi-generational household design, older people live in a two to twelve house for an average person. Older people, however, live in smaller spaces, although the living of people differs essentially across various countries.
Characteristics and Design Features to be Considered for comparison
The designs’ size and space are the most crucial aspects for the development of the project, where the building designs are designed to facilitate mobility, use of natural and aesthetic materials, such as plantation of trees, and use of natural lighting. The natural materials and design are essential for people with visual impairment and dementia. The natural materials used in developing open courtyard help develop therapeutic spaces that benefit the elderly All projects however focus on space, and design, where the restorative garden project focus on creation of a natural environment, as well as the Saint John’s Student’s Project. The restorative green project also advocates for open spaces outside the residents, which Help in engaging with the external world and outdoor activities, such as sports, fitness, and socialization
Saint John university project use of terrazzo kitchens, statement plants that Help in bringing out authenticity, domestic interiors, and bright kitchens and windows allows natural light for the elderly. The projects embraced the use of blocks of colors, such as avocado green, and lilac color, especially in an open courtyard. Also, the students came up with colorful tomes of colors in bedrooms, the use of arched travertine wall carves, soothing interiors, cannabis dispensers, and cull architectures (Dezeen). Characteristics and design features for the project for re-purposing spaces from abandoned buildings. According to the re-purposing projects, students prioritized on designs and materials, especially in making the toilets.
Minimizing hazards and using sensory technology has been a priority in developing the project, especially in reducing and preventing. The elements are designed to warn and reduce errors, especially when the elderly is having social activities, such as playing (Hoof, and Yu, 296). More so, the designs and items used to create a high level of comfort ability, especially in reducing more physical work and facilitating the movement of the elderly from one position to another (Lubliner, 625). The fit city is one of the projects that uses auditory systems, while the Wiggle-Worth project uses a number of sensory, and technological system that creates a comfortable environment for the elderly, such as the temperature detectors, air conditioners, and health systems that detect the weight, and dietary. The interior designs are made for reducing loneliness and promoting socialization among the elderly. The use of terrazzo kitchens, statement plants that Help in bringing out authenticity, domestic interiors, and bright kitchens and windows allows natural light for the elderly. The characteristics and design features for the project for re-purposing spaces from abandoned buildings.
The use of color schemes and materials that improves and minds about the mental health of the elderly has been a priority, especially in creating a calm and serene environment that promotes a social environment (Terashima, and Clark, 126). The materials that developed the mental health of the elderly include the use of walnuts, use of sisal, use of pecan, pine, ball soft pale shadows, and farrow colors to avoid confusing the elderly, especially those with cases of dementia and visual impairment.Sarah Wiggle uses colors that bounce natural lights, such as white, which Help in brightening the space, hence making it easier for the aged to see despite their weak eyesight (Card, par. 5). The downstairs is made of oak handrails; space has been maximized fully, where the utility room is made into a small kitchen on the side of the bedroom, making it easier to make meals without getting up for those with a health issue that limits movement. Simplicity and highly durable materials are the main things in the project for affordability and easy maintenance. However, the interior of the houses makes the elderly feel friendliness, open and promotes human content. The project focuses on the rooms and the neighboring public parks and pathways such as in the NHS project in New York.
Communal meeting spaces that are created help reduce loneliness and Help the older persons in working from the environment, especially those who were handling their businesses. On the other hand, the communal spaces allow the elderly to spend time together, discuss, and socialize to reduce boredom, and isolation primarily those suffering from various diseases. The restorative garden creates a fresh natural environment for meeting, which is a good environment for socializing compared to that created by Saint John’s Project. Saint Johns designs focuses on people over the age of sixty years. It is also a multi-functional design that meets a variety of the needs of the elderly. The design includes areas that provide comfort such as a country club, a spa, and a fitness center, which Help in creating a social community, similar to the aim of the Saint John’s University student’s project
Equability has been promoted by the design developers, especially in accommodating people with various diseases and not suffering from any diseases. However, the designs cater to the elderly of all colors, hence preventing discrimination and stigmatization, promoting security, safety, and segregation. The designs promoted by the projects all promote equality, and do not discriminate any elderly person based on gender or ethnicity. All the projects are similar when it comes to promotion of equality, which is done through development of open spaces that promote socialization, and creation of social centers, such as fitness areas such as in the Midvale Senior Center Project. The multi-generational households promote equality since most older people in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America live in such houses. According to a report conducted, the designs can also be best for older people who want to live alone, where older women are more likely to live alone than older men.
Trending and Best Architectural projects for Ageing Population
The projects offer the best Architectural designs for the aging population and defines the best designs for the population. Across the world, architects are coming up with designs that fit the elderly needs and desires, especially in creating a therapeutic environment and an environment that acts as a healing therapy for most older people (Zhang, 239). Lazavebhia and Wai’s architects that have developed several designs, DIY applications, and hacks that promote better living for older adults, especially those living with dementia. The designs are made to promote happy personal living, engage people living with dementia, and promote physical and cognitive development (Zhang, 16) Various virtual reality tools have been developed and applied in rooms that Help in provide good lighting, improve the designs for aged homes, and promoting room layouts such as the use of virtual empathy platform.
The campaign to end loneliness among the aged has Helped in the development of designs that deal with multi-faceted issues. For instance, the development of local parks, such as the Casa del Abuelo in Mexico, the Guangxi senior center in China, uses materials, such as the clad in wood, grain aluminum, clad in wood, and development of sports areas, such as table tennis rooms. The main aim of the design is to promote interaction between the old and the young, which has been reported to increase life expectancy. Additionally, the silver architectural designs are among the latest and trending designs for the ages that promoted space planning, use of stress-reducing lighting, acoustic innovations that reduce the unpleasant noises, accessible furniture, and directional use layouts, and colors that are psychological helpful. The silver architectural designs also use mind-blowing interior designs, such as plants and woodwork. The silver architecture focuses on maximizing and promoting of quality life for older people.
The use of Cages and the concrete enclosure has been the most recent developments for older people. The cages create a natural habitat for the elderly, for instance, the designs used in the zootopia, which encloses the elderly in zoo-designed spaces. The designs are developed to support better living and well-being of the aged population. The architecture uses unusual and green materials that prevent the emission of carbon and creates a sustainable environment. Some of the materials used include materials such as recycled concrete, sandbags, and railway sleepers. Furthermore, the architecture, together with other architecture, uses roof light and windows to reduce heat demands. The houses are also fitted with ventilation, insulation, heat recovery systems, and more shading and corridors to reduce direct heat and house overheating.
The aging-in-place principles have been embraced when selecting architectures for the age, focusing on the older people’s health and well-being. For instance, use the door levels instead of the doorknobs, awning window type, and toggle switch. The advancement in technology has also made things easier. Instead of moving around, the elderly can use thermostats controlled with a smartphone, reducing physical risks, such as malfunctions. On the other hand, shelves that protruded from walls Help in promoting balance and indirect light that reduces shadow and glares. The light and color temperature has been recommended, ranging between the thousand, seven hundred, to three thousand, especially in the bedroom. To avoid depth perception, patterns and shiny surfaces are avoided to prevent the individuals from falling. Eco-friendly concrete is most currently used as a building material; therefore, the industries make the best concrete products that reduce carbon footprints.
Two main architectural designs that are fit for the aging population. Accordingly, salutogenic and biophilic designs, which are therapeutic and sustainable designs for the aging population. The salutogenic is one of the designs that promoted active health. In contrast, biophilic designs involve the use of nature, which is therapeutic, and Help in the healing process, especially for the elderly going through several health issues (Miller,and Burton, 4). The United Kingdom is one of the countries that has embraced the use of salutogenic and biophilic designs, primarily through Richard Mazuch, who promotes technology and therapeutic designs. The salutogenesis is a design approach that promotes a better quality of life and promotes a holistic approach (Mazuch, 45). Some of the main salutogenic designs that promote health include nature, authenticity, legacy, variety, and vitality. On the other hand, the design promotes creativity, promotes positive behaviors, comfort, and wellness. Bibliophile designs however promotes a close relationship between nature, and humans, especially the use of natural interiors, such as animals and tree calving. The designs, however, make the environs attractive and therapeutic, especially for the aged population.
Several architects have come with a kitchen systems that Helps in mobility, especially for older people with dementia and people with wrist mobility issues. The utensils, however, make cooking more manageable and faster and are better used for different grips and prevent accidents and twisting of the arm while cooking (Zhang, 247). Students from St John University in York have come up with several architectural interior designs that Help in engaging the elderly, reducing loneliness, especially among and making life especially among the people with visual impairment and dementia. Some of the homes fitted with the interior design include the burn house care home by barley brooks, the merchant adventure, the NHS York teaching hospital sense of sight care home.
In Portugal, care homes developed are fitted with projecting windows. For example, the Santa casa da Misericordia elderly homes has projecting windows provide the house with a heterogeneous appearance and promote a special sculptural moment for older people. The windows also concentrate on the lighting. The ceiling has a height of two-point seven meters and an opening between three positives to four point five meters, which Helps in promoting space and lighting (Metalocus).
Architectural designs help create an environment that promotes socialization. The building is fitted with solar panels, thick layers of walls, and thermal regulation create a suitable environment for socialization. The architectural designs that are used Help in reducing ecological impacts promote environmental sustainability. The care homes and private residents are fitted with courtyards designed to promote leisure activities that are low maintenance. However, the material is considered neutral and therefore create a authenticity involving the use of both warm and cold materials, such as warm wood, to balance the temperature of the home (Zhang, 17). Furthermore, the home has vegetation that is planted to improve the air cycle. The houses are also installed with air conditioning systems that allow free flow of air, which uses solar energy instead of electricity, hence conserving the environment (Metalocus). The architectural designs promoted the need for socialization and helped balance sir humidity and temperature for the well-being of the elderly, especially those with respiratory diseases.
Figure: The Santa casa da Misericordia (Retrieved from www.metalocus.es/en/news/santa-casa-da-misericordias-elderly-care-centre-nuno-piedade-alexandre.)
Intelligent cities and architectural designs use various health strategies as the most important when dealing with the aging population. The use of gigabit networks would help promote intelligent cities that are considered good environmental conditions and work on promoting physical activity and affordability. Innovative societies, however, promote the use of technology in the development of architectural designs for the aging population. Satpathy (20) agrees that the use of automated LED smart-spectrum lighting, motion sensors, and gait analysis. People use smart mirrors, smart toilets, automated medicine dispensers, and sleep sensors, which help develop efficient and reliable designs for the aging population. However, the technologies should be included in the construction of aging population houses since most of the time; the elderly do not have caretakers. Nevertheless, most elderly villages and social centers for the elderly are developed with simple and aesthetic materials, such as colors and an open courtyard that promotes socialization and meditation. Architects considered the installation of designs that promote socialization and limit the use of introverted designs. For instance, the use of a courtyard, a social center cafe, and direct windows promotes socialization, where neighbors can see each other in between the internal corridors. The use of bright colors and colors promotes a neutral and bright feeling.
Conclusion
The senior population is the most growing type of population according to recent census. Th elderly require houses that are build with aesthetics, and friendly architectural designs that promote health and well being of the aged. The research Help in understanding various architectural designs for the aged population and designs adopted by several projects to meet the needs and desires of the elderly. Various individual architectural and organizations have come up with designs that fit the need of the elderly, such as people with dementia, visual impairment, and mental health conditions. St John’s graduates are some of the interior design students who have come up with several architectural designs generated from old and abandoned buildings. The interior designs are developed to meet the needs of the elderly, especially in the provision of open cottages, communal places, aesthetic materials, lighting, color use, and natural materials, such as plants, to improve the view and aid in air conditioning. Architectural designs for the aging population are fundamental, especially in creating comfort, healing, and increasing the longevity of the elderly.
Works Cited
Card, N. “No House of Straw: Sarah Wiggles worth’s Eco-home, 20 Years on.” The Guardian, 2 Oct. 2020, www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/jun/07/return-sarah-wigglesworth-straw-bale-house-stock-orchard-street.
Dezeen. “York St John Interior Design Students Reimagine Spaces for the Elderly.” Dezeen, 11 Jan. 2021, www.dezeen.com/2020/06/11/york-st-john-interior-design-vdf-school-shows/.
EDA Architects. “Midvale Senior Center.” Architect, 15 Nov. 2017, www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/midvale-senior-center.
Fumagalli, Natalia, et al. “Sustainable Co-Design with Older People: The Case of a Public Restorative Garden in Milan (Italy).” Sustainability 12.8 (2020): 3166.
Georgiev, Georgi. “Sustainable Environment for Elderly People.” Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People 9.1 (2020): 17-26.
Grazuleviciute-Vileniske, Indre, et al. “Aging, Living Environment, and Sustainability: What Should be Taken into Account?.” Sustainability 12.5 (2020): 1853.
Hoof, Joost van, and Chuck Wah Yu. “Ageing communities, supportive housing and enabling built environments.” (2020): 295-298.
Jang, Mi Seon, Yeun Sook Lee, and Jeong Tai Kim. “Delineation of house design guidelines for fall prevention of older people.” Journal of population ageing 7.3 (2014): 185-215.
Lubliner, David J. “Geriatric engineering: an engineering systems design approach to human aging.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 69.3 (2021): 621-628.
Mazuch, Richard. “Salutogenic and biophilic design as therapeutic approaches to sustainable architecture.” Architectural Design 87.2 (2017): 42-47.
Metalocus. “Santa Casa Da Misericórdia’s Elderly Care Centre by Nuno Piedade Alexandre.” www.metalocus.es/en/news/santa-casa-da-misericordias-elderly-care-centre-nuno-piedade-alexandre.
Miller, Evonne, and Lindy Osborne Burton. “Redesigning aged care with a biophilic lens: a call to action.” Cities & Health (2020): 1-13.
Rhodes, E. “Inside Architect Sarah Wigglesworth’s Age-proofed Home.” Financial Times, 13 Mar. 2020, www.ft.com/content/bca16112-3ecc-11ea-b84f-a62c46f39bc2.
Satpathy, Lalatendu. Smart housing: technology to aid aging in place-new opportunities and challenges. Diss. Architecture, 2021.
Steep, M. Forbes, 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/mikesteep/2016/06/27/can-smart-cities-improve-the-health-of-its-citizens/?sh=1db8f08d3957.
Terashima, Mikiko, and Kate Clark. “The precarious absence of disability perspectives in planning research.” Urban Planning 6.1 (2021): 120-132.
Zhang, Hui. “Research on Residential Building Design for the Elderly in the Aging Society.” E3S Web of Conferences. Vol. 165. EDP Sciences, 2020.
Zhang, Tianxin. “Double Aging: Conserving the Living Environment of Familiarity (LEF) to Mediate Between Aging People and Aging Buildings.” Chinese Cities in the 21st Century. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020. 237-251.
