Architecture of home in later life: towards a fivefold theoretical model
ISSN: 2631-6862
Article publication date: 1 February 2022
Issue publication date: 6 June 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Most older people wish to age “in place”. However, as current housing is mainly unsuitable for later life, architects have a key role to play. Yet, there is little architectural consideration for the notion of “ageing in place” and its various facets, beyond a functional focus. Architects seem to lack support to grasp inhabitants' sensible needs, and thus synergies with other human-centred disciplines could be enlightening. To ensure homes are designed in line with people's wellbeing, the authors aim to provide a state-of-the-art view, as to build a model supporting architects through their understanding of older people-environment relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors investigate the key concepts that could enrich architects' design approaches on “ageing in place”. A narrative literature review scrutinising English- and French-written publications from the last twenty years in various disciplines was conducted, with a focus on older people and non-institutionalised housing.
Findings
The results highlight five essential perspectives to be taken into account when questioning housing for older people: health, affective, social, built and contextual perspectives. Their meaning and ties are developed and then synthesised into considerations, calling for architectural creativity.
Originality/value
This fivefold theoretical model adds to the existing architectural body of knowledge by adopting a multidisciplinary and multidimensional angle, going beyond the predominantly pragmatic vision associated with ageing. It provides stakeholders in architecture with a fresh and clear insight of meaningful relationships between older people and their residential environment.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declaration of interest statement: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding: This work was supported by the F.R.S.-FNRS under an ASP doctoral grant (No. 32817134 and 40001731).
Citation
Schaff, G., Petermans, A., Vanrie, J., Courtejoie, F. and Elsen, C. (2022), "Architecture of home in later life: towards a fivefold theoretical model", Archnet-IJAR, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 413-433. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-04-2021-0115
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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