Living Independently, Staying Connected
Designing for Health and Care in Houtwijk
M. Driessen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
J.H.A. Macco – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
B.M. Jurgenhake – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This graduation project explores how architectural and spatial design can support age-appropriate housing and everyday social interaction among older residents in Houtwijk, The Hague. In response to the growing ageing population and increasing loneliness among older adults, the research investigates how housing environments can balance independent living with opportunities for low-threshold social contact.
The study combines literature research, case studies, interviews, workshops, and expert insights to identify the spatial qualities that support healthy ageing and informal interaction in daily life. The findings show that older residents value autonomy, safety, greenery, outdoor space, and familiar neighbourhood connections, while social interaction is most successful when embedded within everyday routines rather than organised programmes.
Based on these insights, the project develops a housing proposal on the former Connexxion site in Houtwijk. The design introduces a megablock structure organised around collective gardens, access galleries, and a central orangerie that functions as the social heart of the building. Through layered transitions between private, semi-private, and public spaces, the project creates opportunities for voluntary interaction while maintaining independence and privacy.
The proposal demonstrates how architecture can contribute to ageing in place by integrating housing, greenery, climate strategies, and social infrastructure into one coherent spatial framework.