This report, Coloring the Space Between Us: Public Space Design for Intergenerational Interaction through Sensitive Research, explores how to encourage intergenerational interaction between children (6-8 years old) and older adults (65+ years old) in the public space of Hillesluis, Rotterdam Zuid.
As age-segregation increases, children and older adults live more separate lives, despite having shared values, experiences, and knowledge that could be exchanged. This project aims to bridge this gap through design interventions that encourage spontaneous and meaningful connections in public space.
The research questions are structured along four dimensions:
Practical – Understanding current interactions and public space dynamics.
Historical – Examining the development of public spaces and to what extend residents were involved.
Social – Exploring values, perceptions, and barriers shaping intergenerational interactions
Conceptual – Creating design interventions that could encourage intergenerational interaction.
A
sensitive research approach was important for conducting ethical and meaningful research. The research combined action research, open sessions, a literature review, fieldwork and interviews to generate insights. Through these methods the values of children and older adults were identified, themes were clustered, highlighting opportunities for intergenerational design and design requirements were formed based on observations and insights.
Based on these insights, a design goal was formulated: to create a
public space intervention that encourages
connections between children (6-8 years old), older adults (65+), and their environment, enabling
mutual exchange beyond language barriers.
Ideation techniques were used to develop seven concept directions. Based on their alignment with context, values, and interaction type, three promising concepts were further explored: Kunstkrijt, Lichtkleur, and Kleur Beweegt. These concepts revealed valuable insights on expression, subtle connection, and movement, which were translated into additional design requirements.
The final design concept,
BLOOM, was developed from these requirements.
BLOOM consists of two connected parts:
The Flower Frame – a customizable kit delivered to older adults’ homes, allowing them to arrange colorful flowers in their windows as a quiet signal of presence, personality, and openness.
The Colormoves Board – a movement-based game in public squares where children interact with large rotating blocks to create dances inspired by the color patterns they observe in nearby windows.
Together, these components facilitate indirect, non-verbal intergenerational interaction between children and older adults on their own terms and at their own pace, making everyday public space more personal, playful, and inclusive.
Additionally, the project results in a
Toolkit for Sensitive Research, offering lessons learned in the form of tools that support ethical, context-sensitive design research. This toolkit serves as an eye-opener for researchers and designers working in neighborhoods where trust, care, and local connection are essential.
