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Making urban environmentsAge-Friendly
(a brief introduction)
Sophie Handler Manchester City Council / University of Manchester
WHO Age-Friendly movement2007 WHO Guide to Age-Friendly Cities published
2010 first UK city joins WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities
2013 expansion of Global Network (135 cities across 21 countries). UK Network affiliated.
1. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings2. Transportation3. Housing4. Social Participation5. Respect and Social Inclusion6. Civic Participation and Employment7. Communication and Information8. Community Support and Health Services
The eight interrelating domains of an Age-Friendly city
What we mean by Age-Friendly ‘Outdoor Spaces and Buildings’
Key concernsKey drivers
• Inclusive Design
• Accessible environments
• Amenable environments and public facilities
• Link to ‘active’ and healthy ageing
WHO checklist of inclusive features
Design as ‘problem-solving’
from a ‘resistant’ to a supportive environment
• identifying problems, ‘barriers’, needs and concerns
• prototyping and designing solutions
• design recommendations
• implementing design standards
‘amplification of impact from micro environmental aspects in older age’*
The way in which the smallest features of the built environment – ground textures or ‘formerly imperceptible changes in levels’ – can often start to become problematic in older age – in ways that are not so easily felt by others.
* Peace et al.
‘wide and flat tarmac footways’
‘easy transition at level changes’
‘easily visible and understandable signage’
‘frequent, warm, supportive seating’
‘well maintained, safe and open toilets’*
*IDGO Consortium design recommendations
‘frequent, warm, supportive seating’
Beyond the physical fabric…
The less tangible dimension of Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
• people’s subjective perceptions of place
• acknowledging the relational value of certain kinds of spaces
• how a place can affect your sense of identity and sense of self
• ways of co-producing, participating in the production of a space
• acknowledging conflicts and tensions in the shared use of space
Is age-friendly design friendly for all?
Alternative design responses…
or, what is design:
a temporary intervention?
a standardised feature?
a designed object?
a participative design process?
a solution?
another way of looking at things?
- and who is the designer?
Creating Age-Friendly spaces
> who needs to be engaged and involved?
> at what scales?
person > street > neighbourhood > city
> maintenance over time…
what would an Age-Friendly park look like?
>
Growing interest in this area
Research fundingESRC Design, Mobility and Wellbeing
RIBAAgeing focus for 2014
Emerging forms of practiceacross the UK Network
Today
1. Learning from existing Age-Friendly practice
2. Sharing different methods and approaches
3. Thinking forward: next steps
> actions within Age-Friendly cities
> building a collective voice across the UK
