The European Federation for Living has launched a student design competition for new-build accessible housing for the elderly.
The competition responds to a compelling change in demographic: by 2060, over half of Europe and the UK’s population will be past retirement age.
Without accessible housing, the elderly might be excluded from fully participating in the community, even though they add as much vibrancy and resources to it as any other
Dr Manhaz Shah, a design theory convener and lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University, encourages students to participate in the initiative. “One of the obstacles in accessible housing in Wales lies in the lack of emphasis on flexible design solutions that don’t isolate senior citizens completely,” she says.
The EFL seeks innovative solutions to this exact problem, among others. “A goal of the project is to encourage students to provide creative, holistic approaches to accessible housing, like ‘lifetime neighbourhoods’ that expand [senior citizens’] access and inclusivity,” says a researcher at Habinteg Housing Association, a member of the EFL.
