Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities
Outdoor activity areas for embedded retirement facilities (ERFs) are essential for providing older adults with access to outdoor environments within communities. However, there is limited evidence on how these areas influence older adults’ spatial perceptions. This study investigated the impact of E...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/271 |
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| author | Guannan Fu Yinan Gai Liqun Xiang Lin Lin |
| author_facet | Guannan Fu Yinan Gai Liqun Xiang Lin Lin |
| author_sort | Guannan Fu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Outdoor activity areas for embedded retirement facilities (ERFs) are essential for providing older adults with access to outdoor environments within communities. However, there is limited evidence on how these areas influence older adults’ spatial perceptions. This study investigated the impact of ERFs’ spatial characteristics on older adults’ physiological and psychological perceptions. Three kinds of outdoor activity areas in a coastal city in eastern China were investigated, and older adults’ physiological data were collected through real environments from wearable sensors. Their subjective perception data were collected through subjective satisfaction questionnaires. By combining them, the authors identified correlations between older adults’ spatial perceptions and the characteristics of outdoor activity areas, quantifying the impact of various spatial features on their satisfaction. The results showed that areas with high subjective satisfaction were linked to strong emotional arousal and increased visual comfort. Spaces with favourable sky view factors and spatial openness significantly enhanced spatial perception satisfaction. Key design elements can shape older adults’ spatial perceptions. This study highlights the positive relationship between outdoor activity areas for ERFs and older adults’ spatial experiences, offering insights for age-friendly renovations and site selection to create supportive environments for ageing populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f17fb011c40b43b1ade171809b5a34af |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-f17fb011c40b43b1ade171809b5a34af2025-01-24T13:26:25ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115227110.3390/buildings15020271Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement FacilitiesGuannan Fu0Yinan Gai1Liqun Xiang2Lin Lin3College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, ChinaSchool of Architecture, Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College, Zhangzhou 363105, ChinaOutdoor activity areas for embedded retirement facilities (ERFs) are essential for providing older adults with access to outdoor environments within communities. However, there is limited evidence on how these areas influence older adults’ spatial perceptions. This study investigated the impact of ERFs’ spatial characteristics on older adults’ physiological and psychological perceptions. Three kinds of outdoor activity areas in a coastal city in eastern China were investigated, and older adults’ physiological data were collected through real environments from wearable sensors. Their subjective perception data were collected through subjective satisfaction questionnaires. By combining them, the authors identified correlations between older adults’ spatial perceptions and the characteristics of outdoor activity areas, quantifying the impact of various spatial features on their satisfaction. The results showed that areas with high subjective satisfaction were linked to strong emotional arousal and increased visual comfort. Spaces with favourable sky view factors and spatial openness significantly enhanced spatial perception satisfaction. Key design elements can shape older adults’ spatial perceptions. This study highlights the positive relationship between outdoor activity areas for ERFs and older adults’ spatial experiences, offering insights for age-friendly renovations and site selection to create supportive environments for ageing populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/271embedded retirement facilities (ERFs)outdoor activity areasemotional arousalspatial perceptions |
| spellingShingle | Guannan Fu Yinan Gai Liqun Xiang Lin Lin Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities Buildings embedded retirement facilities (ERFs) outdoor activity areas emotional arousal spatial perceptions |
| title | Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities |
| title_full | Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities |
| title_short | Quantifying Older Adults’ Spatial Perceptions of Outdoor Activity Areas for Embedded Retirement Facilities |
| title_sort | quantifying older adults spatial perceptions of outdoor activity areas for embedded retirement facilities |
| topic | embedded retirement facilities (ERFs) outdoor activity areas emotional arousal spatial perceptions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/271 |
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