Age-friendly urbanism
A pattern language for age-friendly communities in the Netherlands
L. Wiegers (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
R.M. Rooij – Mentor (TU Delft - Spatial Planning and Strategy)
Martijn Lugten – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)
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Abstract
This thesis examines the role of the built environment to facilitate ageing populations in the support of the quality of life for elderly. Older people, aged 65 and over, are becoming the majority of cities’ populations, yet are still to get acknowledged by urban planners. Resulting in elderly to experience negative impacts on their abilities to maintain their daily activities. As ageing is only going to increase, a shift towards age-friendly communities is needed to support all ages, but elderly in particular, in their later stages of life. Therefore, this study explores how cities can support elderly in active and healthy ageing, while also exploring how age-friendliness can initiate a re-housing chain, starting with older residents. Central to this research is the research question: “How could age-friendly spatial planning and strategy in Dutch cities support active and healthy ageing for elderly and contribute to a more balanced housing market?”
The pattern language has been used to demonstrate what the important domains of age-friendliness are. Through scenario’s and a vision in the case study location, two neighbourhoods in Apeldoorn, the results are presented. Key findings show how this methodology creates opportunities for active and healthy ageing for elderly, as well as how a quantitative and qualitative senior housing supply is an intermediate goal for the housing market. These results conclude that age-friendly spatial planning enhances the quality of life and can be transferable for other cities to face the societal change.