Future proof neighborhood shopping centres in an aging population

A quantitative case study research on shopping preferences of elderly people in a Dutch aging neighborhood.

Master thesis (2019)

Authors

S.M.M. Verseput Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

C.J. van Oel Housing Management - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
J.S.J. Koolwijk (mentor)
D.J. Dubbeling OLD Support RES (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2019 Sander Verseput
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Published Date

18-04-2019

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

It is the year 2019 and the Dutch economy is flourishing. However, the retail sector is still in a ‘re- inventing phase’. The popularity of e-commerce is increasing and Dutch shopping districts are continuously changing. This affects the profitability of both retailers and retail investors. Considering that the Dutch population is aging, people live longer independently and elderly people like shopping centres as places for spontaneous encounters it seems clear that an increasingly important target group for Dutch neighbourhood shopping centres are the elderly people. If our neighbourhood shopping centres are not tailored towards the wishes of the elderly consumers it can have both a social and financial impact. First of all, the elderly might not be able to buy the goods they need for an autonomous live and they might not like the physical environment of the shopping centre as a social meeting place. Besides this, it can lead to missed financial opportunities for retailers and shopping centre investors. The main aim of this research is to gain insight into solutions / measures that make existing neighbourhood shopping centres future proof in aging societies such as the Netherlands. The emphasis in this study is on analysing the wishes of elderly visitors with regard to the characteristics of the shopping centre.