Age-friendly spatial design for residential neighbourhoods in a compact city: Participatory planning with older adults and stakeholders

Abstract

Despite worldwide concerns about ageing-in-place and age-friendly environments in cities, frameworks for age-friendly residential neighbourhoods—particularly planned housing estates dominant in Asia—remain underdeveloped. This study addressed this gap by developing a responsive, adaptable, and scale-specific framework for age-friendly spatial design of old residential neighbourhoods. We applied participatory research methods to study an old private residential neighbourhood beset by both demographic and infrastructural ageing in Hong Kong. Integrating perspectives from older residents, other age groups, and built-environment professionals, the study facilitated the co-identification of current barriers and co-prioritisation of critical design factors and strategies for age-friendly residential neighbourhoods. Two main factors emerged: Future-Proofing Communities, focusing on adaptable spatial design and functionality, and Creating Flexible Places for All, emphasising complementary and multiple-use space for services, activities, and community support networks. The study sheds light on the dynamics of property ownership and management in residential neighbourhoods, underscoring the importance of empathy and consensus-building between management and residents. The findings provided actionable insights for governments, urban planners, and public and private housing suppliers and managers. We advocate extending the discourse on sustainable urban development for ageing populations, particularly in high-density and old Asian urban neighbourhoods.