Arduini_Hannah_Honors_Project.pdf

Arduini_Hannah_Honors_Project_pdf.txt

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The Benefits of Intergenerational Housing and Adaptable Design as a method to accomplish varying accessibility Honors Thesis Hannah Arduini University of Florida March 2023

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1 Acknowledgements Thank you to my senior thesis advisor, Donna Cohen for the endless support and enthusiasm towards my topic and exploration. Thank you to my Design 7 studio professor, Peter Sprowls for the encouragement of our wild ideas and for the guidance throughout design development. The design project discussed in the end of this paper was developed in collaboration with Gabriela Medina.

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2 Thesis Intergenerational housing defines a cohousing model between seniors and young individuals that is mutual ly beneficial to both generations and can be accomplished through adaptable design methods that create flexible spaces based upon the accessibility requirements of its occupants. Abstract This paper begins with an explanation and an analysis of intergenerational housing as a concept and the many ways it can improve the mental and physical health of individuals whilst reducing the typical isolation of senior living. This housing typology involves the cohousing of different age groups typically seniors and young individuals. Through increased socialization and physical activity, both groups experience an improvement of health and cognitive function. Through joined living experiences, the two groups can learn from and grow with another. This paper acknowledges the many aspects required from the architecture for this joined program to exist , most specifically the various levels of accessibility needed throughout its spaces. It analyzes adaptable design as a method to design for all individuals in an affordable sense. Inclusive and accessible living environments create the potential of social cohesion amongst these two generations. Overall, this paper contributes to the growing research on intergenerational housing, from an architectural and theoretical point of view.

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3 Introductio n Intergenerational housing describes the joined living of seniors and younger individuals. Aging is a complex and never ending process that affects all individuals. Characterized by continuous loss, the aging process experienced by seniors typically invol ves a loss of social place, social roles, family, and economic roles. Nursing homes and other types of senior living tend to be isolated from society , geographically and socially. Negative stigma fills these housing typologies and characterizes them as out casts of society. This isolation and sense of loneliness can lead to intense vulnerability among seniors which often results in depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse. With a typical absence of major responsibilities for the first time in one’s life, this transition can also bring out feelings of uselessness and emptiness , both detrimental to one’s mental health and cognitive function. Healthy aging is accomplished when one’s well being is of top priority and when balance is maintained throughout this transition in their life. This involves continual development of physical and mental strength. Intergenerational interaction promotes positive aging through inclusive methodologies that optimize health, safety, and happiness. Beyond the benefits to seniors, intergenerational interaction also benefits the younger generation and society. Younger individuals can learn from the wisdom of elders. Through hearing about a wide range of life experiences and the past reality of our world, they are able to gain a new appreciation for the present and the future. When these two generations respect and understand each other, society can function more

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4 cohesively . Acknowledgement of both groups’ importance allows for the accomplishment of joined goals to be made. Benefits of In tergenerational Interaction Social interaction has direct positive impacts on all individuals’ memory and cognitive function. Proven by studies completed by The Psychonomic Society in 2010, collaboration benefits individual memory through reexposure and c ross cueing. Reexposure describes information that one becomes reexposed to due to it being recalled by another person in a group setting.1 This recall of others can also cause cross cueing: the trigger of information to be recalled by oneself. Both events involve individuals recalling information that would not have occurred outside of a group setting. When seniors tell stories and socialize in a group setting, their cognitive function is better than it would be if they were alone.2 In a research exper iment on recall performance both collaboratively and individually amongst two age groups, both the younger and older group proved to benefit from collaborative sessions. Findings in the analysis of an intergenerational playroom in Australia show the benefits on the cognitive function of youthful individuals and elders who spend time together. After many interviews of the study’s participants and qualitative analysis, the research found that these two groups connect through play.3 Playful activities s uch as board games and dancing to live music bring out nostalgic feelings of elders that often 1 Blumen and Stern, “Short Term and LongTerm Collaboration Benefits on Individual Recall in Younger and Older Adults.” 2 Ibid. 3 Hernandez, Murray, and Stanley, “An Intergenerational Playgroup in an Australian AgedCare Setting: A Qualitative Case Study.”

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5 bring them back to their childhood. With the comfortable feeling of home surrounding them, improvements to their mental health as well as their cognitive functio n can be seen. As younger individuals are typically characterized by having a mind open to learning, the two groups, when merged together, create an inclusive community that feels safe. With isolation increasing the risk of health conditions such as hypertension, incontinence, and vision impairment, senior housing has become a public health issue.4 In addition to mental health, i ntergenerational housing has immense benefits to seniors’ physical health. Reported by John Hopkins University School of Medicine, seniors involved in intergenerational programs had decreased falls and increased strength, mobility and balance.5 A study in Japan found that seniors who par ticipated in intergenerational programs showed higher levels of physical ability in terms of motor skills, activity, and strength within four to eight months.6 With shared spaces for activity in intergenerational housing projects, seniors are motivated by the energy of youthful individuals and are more likely to participate in activities than in typical senior housing facilities. Long term, intergenerational housing can improve seniors’ quality of life, leading to a healthier, happier, and longer aging process. Immense benefits exist for the younger generation in intergenerational housing as well. With decreased hearing, eyesight, and memory apparent in many seniors, individuals must be patient when communicating with them. This exposure benefits 4 Sule man and Bhatia, “Intergenerational Housing as a Model for Improving Older Adult Health.” 5 Hanks et al., “A Multigenerational Strategy to Transform Health Education into Community Action.” 6 Suleman and Bhatia, “Intergenerational Housing as a Model for Improving Older Adult Health.”

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6 one’s pati ence and listening skills.7 In addition, much perspective can be gained from learning about the past from a first person point of view. Hearing stories from people who have lived through events such as The Great Depression and World War II provide a rare perspective on the world. In addition, seniors can also present as a mentor figure that could otherwise be absent from young individuals' lives. Through storytelling and joint activities, younger individuals can learn from the mistakes and lessons of elders. Having someone to look up to is a crucial aspect of growing as an individual. Intergenerational Housing Intergenerational housing combines residents of widely varying accessibility needs. This housing typology must address the changing needs of its residents in terms of accessibility. Many design concepts exist on how to create space for this variation of functional limitations, one being adaptable design. With flexibility and temporality as the driving force, adaptable design methods create spaces that can adapt to its users’ needs. Through zerostep entrances, adjustable fixtures, tactile markings on floor changes, and wide hallways, entrance sequences and common spaces are accessible to all bodies while individual units are adaptable in effort to preserve costs. An example of this is in Plaza de America in Alicante, Spain in which partition walls and moveable panels are used to adapt the program and functionality of spaces.8 For example, a private bedroom for a senior can adapt into part of the living room of a social housing 7 Carstensen, Freedman, and Larson, “Hidden in Plain Sight: How Intergenerational Relationships Can Transform Our Future.” 8 Garcia and Marti, “Intergenerational Architecture and Public Space.”

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7 unit of younger individuals. This allows the housing unit to adapt to its changing residents and the wide range of their accessibility needs. EQUAL (Extend Quality Life) is a national research organizat ion that defined the term ‘design for all’ in 1998. With its goal to create environments usable by all people and to their fullest extent, it encompasses seven main points: equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and size/ space for approach/ use.9 It is the duty of all architects to understand the importance of these points, especially when designing intergenerational housing where adaptable accessibility is mandatory. Studio Exploration In collaboration with peer Gabriela Medina, the following project explores the playful combination of senior living and a rock climbing gym in Manhattan New York in Design 7 under the guidance of Peter Sprowls. Driven by an in terest in reducing the isolation of senior living , the hyper active program attracts adventurous and youthful individuals, and activity bec omes the forefront of the project. Bridging over the Harlem River , this project connects Manhattan and the Bronx thro ugh a public bridge program on the roof of the housing and gym floors that are supported by large mountainous structures. These mountains became a part of the program, offering an optional hike up to the building as apart of one's workout (Fig 8) . Section ally separated, the seniors can 9 Demirkan, “Housing for the Aging Population.”

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8 live privately from the gym itinerary, but the spaces overlap in places such as the central atrium (Fig 5) where climbing can be viewed from the above residents. Transparency is used to share the activity of climbing to the seniors and to the public while opaque materials provide the residents with privacy. The public market overhead offers a joined space for all individuals to shop, run, socialize, and view the surroundings (Fig 7) . Here, seniors are able to shop at fresh markets and socialize with the active individuals who might have just ascended from the ground. This program becomes an environment of healthy life habits amongst people of all ages. Conclusion In conclusion, seniors and young individuals benefit greatly from spending time with one another in terms of their physical and mental health. Intergenerational housing fosters an environment of mutual respect, understanding, and benefactory of the two gro ups. As seniors experience direct improvements to their cognitive ability and overall health, the youth gain a new perspective on life and a new level of patience, understanding, and empathy to the world around them. Overall, this housing typology benefits society as a whole and can be accomplished through adaptable design which focuses on the flexibility of spaces to adapt to the accessibility of its occupants.

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9 Figure 1. Site Plan. Harlem River, New York

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10 Figure 2. Ground Floor Plan `

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11 Figure 3. Market Floor Plan (Roof Level)

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12 Figure 4. Rock Climbing Gym Floor

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13 Figure 5. Central Atrium of Rock Climbing Playground Figure 6. Playground viewed from resident perspective

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14 Figure 7. Public Rooftop Market \

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15 Figure 8. Ascend to the top

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16 Bibliography Benjamas Kutintara, Pornpun Somboon, Virajada Buasri, Metinee Srettananurak, Piyanooch Jedeeyod, Kittikan Pornpratoom, Veraya Iam cham. (2013) Design and evaluation of a kitchen for persons with visual impairments . Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology 8:2, pages 136139. Blumen, Helena, and Yaakov Stern. “Short Term and LongTerm Collaboration Benefits on Individual Recall in Younger and Older Adults.” The Psychonomic Society , November 2, 2010. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421 0100023-6 . Carstensen, Laura, Marc Freedman, and Carol Larson. “Hidden in Plain Sight: How Intergenerational Relationships Can Transform Our Future.” Edited by Rita Beamish and Susan Wolfe. Standford Center on Longevity , June 2014. http://longevity3.stanford.edu/hiddenin plain sight how intergenerationalrelationships cantran sform our future/ . Demirkan, Halime. “Housing for the Aging Population.” European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, January 22, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11556007 0016-z . Garcia, Sergio, and Pablo Marti. “Intergenerational Architecture and Public Space.” ARG (Santiago) , April 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S071769962014000100009 .

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17 Hanks, Roma, Hattie Myles, Sarah Wraight, and Mary Williams. “A Multigenerational Strategy to Transform Health Education into Community Action.” John Hopkins Un iversity Press, Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 12 (2018). Hernandez, Gabrielle, Carolyn Murray, and Mandy Stanley. “An Intergenerational Playgroup in an Australian AgedCare Setting: A Qualitative Case Study .” Health Soc Care Community , n.d. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13149 . Suleman, Raiya, and Faizan Bhatia. “Intergenerational Housing as a Model for Improving Older Adult Health.” BC Medical Journal 63, no. BCMJ (May 2021): 171– 73.


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