Prevention of Cognitive Impairments Through Architectural Design

Graduation Studio Designing for Health & Care ’Towards a Healthy and Inclusive Living Environment’

Master thesis (2023)

Authors

I. Potok Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

E. Miedema Teachers of Practice / A - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 1)
F.M. van Andel Public Building and Housing Design (supervisor 1)
J.W. Lafeber Teachers of Practice / AE+T - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 1)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2023 Iga Potok
Prevention Dementia Inclusivity Aging in place Intergenerational Dementia Care Active design Design for encounter Prevention of Dementia
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Published Date

21-06-2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

This paper has argued that the absence of inter-generational contact and a deficit of care-taking in communities leads to the societal exclusion of the elderly and increases the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia and depression. Dementia is a pressing problem of our time. The number of people with dementia is constantly rising and will triple by 2050.1 The understaffed healthcare system can no longer provide enough care in nursing facilities. Therefore, this thesis aimed to discover how to prevent the development of cognitive impairments by implementing design strategies on the neighbourhood and housing block scale.
The main research question to be addressed in this thesis was what inclusive design strategy can encourage daily inter-generational contact, strengthen communities and prevent cognitive impairments?
The research included primary research on the target group’s social needs and future-proof living space design through a one-week observation study, three semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire conducted among 18 participants.
Additionally, secondary research was conducted by analysis of two case studies of community-based design projects.
This study has identified a correlation between staying socially and physically active and has found that the combination of fostering social contact and encouraging physical activity can delay the illness by several years. It investigated the needs and wants of different generations regarding neighbourhood and housing design. It identified that a need to feel like a part of a community is the most important overlap between all age groups.
It also examined how to use the principles of ‘Active design’ and ‘Architecture for encounter’ in a housing block.
As a result, the research provides answers on how the architectural design of a housing block can prevent the development of cognitive impairments and thus enable healthy ageing in place. Conclusively the research identified that it is indeed possible to encourage daily inter-generational contact, strengthen communities and prevent cognitive impairments through a design of a housing block which revolves around the community.