Recreational Spaces for the elderly

Background

Population Ageing- a phenomenon that was initially faced by the developed countries but the developing nations are catching up soon. The number of senior citizens (60 years and above) is estimated to increase from 901 million in 2015 to 1.4 billion in 2030 and 2.1 billion in 2050. On the other hand, urbanisation has been rapidly increasing leaving 55% of the total population now living in cities and is said to increase up to 68% over the coming decades as per the UN.

With the progressing age, it becomes more difficult to interact with new people and to make new connections. The problem further aggravates in cities of today, where urban development many a time sideline this understated need. 

An ageing population indicates any country’s advancement in science and technology, and higher standards of living. Any country’s advancement is a sheer result of the actions and decisions taken by the retired people of today when they were the youth of the country. However, when the citizens retire, they have often considered an economic burden to society. 

This forces us to wonder if there’s a need to care about the retired? 

The modern-day cities lack senior-friendly places. In such a situation, a logical question arises, what will they do in a time when technology changes so quickly and when all means of leisure are largely inaccessible? Are there any ways to tackle the issue of isolation among the old? 

Brief

In such a scenario, how can architecture be used as a tool to propose solutions to cater to the issues of isolation at an old age? How can public places become more inviting and accessible to the percentage of the population that will be turning over 60 in the future? 

Being old, one priceless thing they possess is their experience. How can architecture create spaces that can increase the interaction of the elderly with the youth or children to share their experiences? 

Boun Furniture design by Uni launched a competition to create a space for the elderly in Germany. The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows: 

Stefan Sjöberg, Founding Partner, Kjellander Sjöberg, Sweden

Nicola Probst, Owner, Nicola Probst Architetti, Switzerland

Oscar Miguel Ares, CEO, contextos de arquitectura y urbanismo, Spain

Some of the Best of competition projects as follows:

Winning Project: Swap in the park

By: Dewei Nie, Han Wan, Xiao Yang & Zongxiang Yang

Description: We designed a program called "Swap" for the project, The main responsibility of the program is to achieve equal intergenerational interactions between the young and the elderly. The process of one-way "Care for the elderly" in the traditional sense is transformed into two-way "Exchange between young people and the elderly?

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Runner - Up: Link

By: Azade Taebi & Yasaman Roshani

Description: To establish communication between the elderly and the young, there is a need for an emotional and social bond between them.Elderly people enjoy sharing their experiences and young people need these experiences. Thus, if we make an appropriate place, In this case, it seems there will exist a social, emotional link among people.

 

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 Honorable Mention: Platform Park (Huddle)

 By:  Juan José Vargas Castillo & Felipe Betancur

Description: The platform is a park designed for people of advanced age, where the impact of the usual to the natural is minimal. The intention of the park is to generate a space where users can travel, contemplate and meet. The continuity of a level from the highest point of the lot is considered, in order to generate a continuous step without irregularities.

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 Honorable Mention: A Bridge

By: Ju Wang, Bo Lei & Ziheng Guo

Description: It's a bridge between people and the surroundings. It's a bridge between aged people and the youth. It's a bridge between aged people and their companions. It's also a bridge between anybody in need and warm aid ready to help.
 

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People’s Choice: TRANQUIL

By: Herriot Watt University

Description: Nature brings life: Butterfly park to bring joy. The project re-establish faith in the balance between human beings and nature. The space is meant for re-energizing and finding joy in physical and spiritual reconstruction. It creates hope for the coming future Architecture, which will be designed respecting to nature and not against it.

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Institutional Excellence Awards: Reach

By: Herriot Watt University

Description: Connecting generations through day care interactions. Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality level of a population global life expectancy increased by 53 years between 2010 and 2016. The fastest increase since the 1960s. Which means that the older population dominates over the society.

 

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Editorial Choice: The Sprout

By: Liu Ying, Chen Junlin, Zian Zhengayi & Cao Ya 

Description: The project aims to lay a harmounious and modern architecture in the garden. The shape was inspired by a natural phenomenon: the emergence of a seed from the ground, which literally means that the seeds sprout and grow out of the ground, symbolizing new things appearing and vitality.

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Discover the design brief here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/huddle/info/about

Discover the full results here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/huddle/entries

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Discover other design competitions to participate here: https://uni.xyz/competitions