Retiring to the city: urban solutions to meet a demand on the rise
Al fresco dining in Duke of York Square, Chelsea
Arjun Sampat and Lingge Yang investigate this new trend for our ageing population.
There has been a surge in discussions to understand the importance of how the urban climate must adapt to those living longer. Exploring how cities and developers can positively influence a reinvented approach catered for the longer living, by understanding the needs of an ageing population and opening the conversation back towards a previously neglected market.
The quest for improved living conditions is an age-old question that is dictated by the market, technology, social and political influences, among many others. As with any global movement, architecture finds itself in a constant state of adaptation, with architects attempting to anticipate every shift, every setback or progression that bears the current trend in the long line of questions asked about the current state of our built environment. According to the ONS, almost 1 in 5 people in the UK are above the retirement age (65+) and this figure is set to rise, predicting that 30% of the UK population will be over 65 by 2050. This will somewhat be influenced by the increasing state retirement age, healthcare, living conditions, as well as growing discussions regarding flexible working.
When we look at the current housing market, 35% of the older generation live either alone or as part of a couple, yet 42% of all houses in Britain are three bedrooms and above. Furthermore, these stats will coincide with the thought of what we as society deem as ‘old’. For real estate companies looking to diversify their portfolio, these statistics can be interlinked to deduce a quantifiable solution. As architects we can further assist in influencing the factors to mitigate flaws in the urban environment, and by looking at how the inclusion of the ageing population can allow us to further understand the requirement of adaptability and wellness in living.
These later living apartments are designed to adapt unobtrusively as needs change
In inner cities, the focus has been on young, energetic first-time buyers who wish to experience the active, highly mobile lifestyle of working, living, studying, and playing. We’ve long associated the older generation with the demand for peace and quiet, a steadier lifestyle with reduced stress and increased serotonin.
The big city and bright lights don’t work for Terrence and Dawn; but after spending their youthful party years living in Zones 1 and 2, neither does relocating to the suburbs where places of interest, family, and amenities - including access to good quality healthcare - are all further away. Even specialist housing, a term coined from the demand of addressing issues relating to age and where self-independence is weaker, can be addressed within the urban context.
When Viennese architect Richard Neutra first established the term ‘biorealism’ back in the 1930s, it stemmed from the combined knowledge of biological science, material and architecture. He described the term as ‘survival through design’, deduced from the human desire for interaction, space, nature, and conclusively, sensory enlightenment that affects our physiology.
This courtyard garden provides interaction with outdoor space
Fast forward to the 21st century and the ‘Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation’ (HAPPI) produced an extensive report in 2009 which addresses feasible architectural and social factors that can be implemented and applied in design today. Architectural factors such as generous indoor and outdoor space, suitable mobility, large daylight provisions, a mixture of green and blue spaces and external care adaptability are starting to be introduced, and are generally well received.
Alongside, social factors such as an improved focus on modern retirement, tackling proximity, addressing mental health and issues of loneliness are gaining prominence and are becoming an increasingly welcome addition to design. We have seen examples of this in typologies such as the Maggie’s Centres, which cater to a specific audience. We hope to see clients and developers continue to invest in such factors to address the needs of an ageing population.
Facilities for staying active can help with good mental and physical wellbeing
The objective to create a somewhat bespoke wellness experience for the longer living stems from addressing many personal and contextual factors raised through conversation, research and understanding by the developers. Our later living project Auriens Chelsea, uses the latest technology combined with shared health care amenities.
These services allow for a guided but enhanced level of wellness, through their promotion of fitness, nutrition, and physiology both on a facilitated and interpersonal level. There is also an in-home care facility which manages on-site nursing, with further access to GPs, health consultants and hospitals. Inside the residences, the developers pushed for a smarter approach to tackling the challenges faced by the longer living. The results are lavish well-lit spaces, a good mix of soft and warm finishes, as well as motorized cabinetry and the state-of-the-art air supply.
Homely spaces provide a sanctuary in which you can relax and socialise
A short walk from Auriens Chelsea along King’s Road brings you to the Duke of York Square, an award-winning public space that offers a plethora of amenities and generous green spaces to both local residents and tourists. It is a fine example of urban social inclusion which caters nicely to the longer living. The proximity of Auriens Chelsea with Duke of York Square has resulted in increased inter-generational mixing. The public space is happily occupied and enjoyed by all. The encouragement of shared activities and amenities will subsequently strengthen the spirit of the community, and revitalise the dying public realm.
As architects, we believe we can create positive change through our profession, but we also place reliance on our clients. Developers must share the same view for adaptation and so must the national government, who can help in ensuring these conversations continue and are put into action.
Urban solutions catering to the longer living is a growing demand and generating ideas to meet this challenge will be an ongoing process with exciting outcomes. By doing so, we hope the supply meets the demand so that one day, in 2050, almost a third of our country can enjoy an improved built environment based on the dialogue and changes imposed now.
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