︎ Ageless Gumption
A strength-based approach to increase intergenerational equality through architectural intervention.
By Apurva Muralidhar ︎
Ageless Gumption is a community prototype that mainly caters for the age group of 65+ like the ‘Age-integrated living/ senior citizens’ residence and Kindergarten’, it also aims to have an overall impact on its social environment and it creates an opportunity for intergenerational solidarity, healthy environment, strength-based sharing, overall wellbeing, sense of belonging, strong support system and community participation.
Intergenerational equity is an effective method to bring successful and positive transformations in society among all age groups. A successful way of creating a healthy and safe environment where the aged population can successfully grow is by:
- Creating intergenerational opportunities that can bring the younger generation in contact with the older adults. Like creating spaces of interaction near schools or geriatric hospitals, to create a natural interactive environment.
- Bring the older adults in contact with the oldest adults so there can be a strength based interactive living that will help the newer aged adults’ transition into old age easily. Also, it helps the oldest adults get help for older adults with the support they lack physically. This can be done by identifying communities that can house older adults and oldest adults together.
- A community that has interactive spaces that helps promote interactions between the inhabitants and create a codependent environment. Keeping the above points of decision in mind to create a healthy environment, a site in Ann Arbor has been chosen that can cater to all 3 needs of a well-rounded community. This site has a Kindergarten and a geriatric hospital in proximity. This helps develop a sustainable ecosystem that can house the older generation in an intergenerationally equal environment.
Present COVID-19 Situation
The COVID-19 pandemic could have been mentally easier for the aged if the opportunities like the kindergarten and geriatric hospitals as identified in Ann Arbor could have created a shared interactive community space or garden where both the age groups could have successfully interacted. So, the aged could continue connecting with the younger generation through technology through the pandemic we are facing today.
Proposed prototype community / 2020
Design to Outcomes
Aging is a natural process and by creating opportunities for the multigenerational interactions where the aging population can use their strengths to help the younger and older generations will give them a sense of identity and belonging. Overall creating “Successful Aging”.
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Works Cited
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