Towards an inclusive living environment in which people can grow old

The ageing society asks for architectural designs in which people can grow old. However, our living environments are not well-equipped for this. Isolation, loneliness or neglect of the elderly are often seen results. What if we could create living environments for mixed communities, co-housing or other forms of living in which the elderly live among others and can be informally supported and empowered to keep a purpose in life? In 2022, 12 students studied a neighbourhood in The Hague in the Netherlands to find answers to these questions. The integration of ethnographic research methods provided an unique opportunity for the student to meet their target population. Models and design solutions for new concepts of co-habitation were developed, answers on the level of transformation of existing houses, new houses and ideas for a co-neighbourhood with new amenities. The paper will explain the method, the process and show some interesting results.