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Architecture of home in later life: towards a fivefold theoretical model

Gwendoline Schaff, Ann Petermans, Jan Vanrie, Fabienne Courtejoie, Catherine Elsen

Archnet-IJAR

ISSN: 2631-6862

Article publication date: 1 February 2022

Issue publication date: 6 June 2022

353

Abstract

Purpose

Most older people wish to age “in place”. However, as current housing is mainly unsuitable for later life, architects have a key role to play. Yet, there is little architectural consideration for the notion of “ageing in place” and its various facets, beyond a functional focus. Architects seem to lack support to grasp inhabitants' sensible needs, and thus synergies with other human-centred disciplines could be enlightening. To ensure homes are designed in line with people's wellbeing, the authors aim to provide a state-of-the-art view, as to build a model supporting architects through their understanding of older people-environment relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors investigate the key concepts that could enrich architects' design approaches on “ageing in place”. A narrative literature review scrutinising English- and French-written publications from the last twenty years in various disciplines was conducted, with a focus on older people and non-institutionalised housing.

Findings

The results highlight five essential perspectives to be taken into account when questioning housing for older people: health, affective, social, built and contextual perspectives. Their meaning and ties are developed and then synthesised into considerations, calling for architectural creativity.

Originality/value

This fivefold theoretical model adds to the existing architectural body of knowledge by adopting a multidisciplinary and multidimensional angle, going beyond the predominantly pragmatic vision associated with ageing. It provides stakeholders in architecture with a fresh and clear insight of meaningful relationships between older people and their residential environment.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Declaration of interest statement: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding: This work was supported by the F.R.S.-FNRS under an ASP doctoral grant (No. 32817134 and 40001731).

Citation

Schaff, G., Petermans, A., Vanrie, J., Courtejoie, F. and Elsen, C. (2022), "Architecture of home in later life: towards a fivefold theoretical model", Archnet-IJAR, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 413-433. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-04-2021-0115

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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