Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China
Population aging and urbanization are two of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. Against the backdrop of rapid aging in China, developing age-friendly community environments, particularly through the renovation of legacy residential communities, not only supports active...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Min Gong Ning Wang Yubei Chu Yiyao Wu Jiadi Huang Jing Wu |
| author_facet | Min Gong Ning Wang Yubei Chu Yiyao Wu Jiadi Huang Jing Wu |
| author_sort | Min Gong |
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| description | Population aging and urbanization are two of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. Against the backdrop of rapid aging in China, developing age-friendly community environments, particularly through the renovation of legacy residential communities, not only supports active and healthy aging but also promotes equity and sustainable development. This study focuses on residential communities built in the 1980s in Hangzhou, exploring strategies for the age-friendly renovation of outdoor public spaces. The residential communities that flourished during the construction boom of the 1980s are now confronting a dual challenge: aging populations and deteriorating facilities. However, existing renovation efforts often pay insufficient attention to the comprehensive age-friendly transformation of outdoor public spaces within these neighborhoods. Following a structured research framework encompassing investigation, evaluation, design, and discussion, this study first analyzes linear grid layouts and usage patterns of these communities. Then, the research team uses post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess the age-friendliness of outdoor public spaces. Semi-structured interviews with elderly residents identify key concerns and establish a preliminary evaluation framework, while a Likert-scale questionnaire quantifies the satisfaction with age-friendly features across four communities. The assessment reveals that key age-friendliness issues, including poor traffic safety, dispersed activity spaces, and insufficiently adapted facilities, are closely linked to the linear usage patterns within the spatial framework of the grid layouts. Based on the findings, the study develops tiered renovation goals, renovation principles and implemented an age-friendly design in the Hemu Community. The strengths, weaknesses, and feasibility of the renovation plan are discussed, while three recommendations are made to ensure successful implementation. The study is intended to provide a valuable reference for advancing age-friendly residential renewal efforts in Hangzhou and contributing to the broader objective of sustainable, inclusive city development. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ebbe2817168042bf9c09ea0f2bff07ee2025-01-24T13:26:12ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115221110.3390/buildings15020211Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, ChinaMin Gong0Ning Wang1Yubei Chu2Yiyao Wu3Jiadi Huang4Jing Wu5School of Spatial Planning and Design, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, ChinaSchool of Spatial Planning and Design, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310007, ChinaSt. Michaels University School, Victoria, BC V8P 4P5, CanadaSchool of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310007, ChinaPopulation aging and urbanization are two of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. Against the backdrop of rapid aging in China, developing age-friendly community environments, particularly through the renovation of legacy residential communities, not only supports active and healthy aging but also promotes equity and sustainable development. This study focuses on residential communities built in the 1980s in Hangzhou, exploring strategies for the age-friendly renovation of outdoor public spaces. The residential communities that flourished during the construction boom of the 1980s are now confronting a dual challenge: aging populations and deteriorating facilities. However, existing renovation efforts often pay insufficient attention to the comprehensive age-friendly transformation of outdoor public spaces within these neighborhoods. Following a structured research framework encompassing investigation, evaluation, design, and discussion, this study first analyzes linear grid layouts and usage patterns of these communities. Then, the research team uses post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess the age-friendliness of outdoor public spaces. Semi-structured interviews with elderly residents identify key concerns and establish a preliminary evaluation framework, while a Likert-scale questionnaire quantifies the satisfaction with age-friendly features across four communities. The assessment reveals that key age-friendliness issues, including poor traffic safety, dispersed activity spaces, and insufficiently adapted facilities, are closely linked to the linear usage patterns within the spatial framework of the grid layouts. Based on the findings, the study develops tiered renovation goals, renovation principles and implemented an age-friendly design in the Hemu Community. The strengths, weaknesses, and feasibility of the renovation plan are discussed, while three recommendations are made to ensure successful implementation. The study is intended to provide a valuable reference for advancing age-friendly residential renewal efforts in Hangzhou and contributing to the broader objective of sustainable, inclusive city development.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/2111980s residential communitiespublic spacesage friendlyrenovation design |
| spellingShingle | Min Gong Ning Wang Yubei Chu Yiyao Wu Jiadi Huang Jing Wu Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China Buildings 1980s residential communities public spaces age friendly renovation design |
| title | Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China |
| title_full | Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China |
| title_short | Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China |
| title_sort | optimizing public spaces for age friendly living renovation strategies for 1980s residential communities in hangzhou china |
| topic | 1980s residential communities public spaces age friendly renovation design |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/211 |
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