For my assignment, chose to propose an optimal design for housing which takes into account the health and social needs as well as generational preferences. The assignment addresses design which evokes a positive emotional response, dignity, and support interpersonal relationships.

In Denmark, I foresee an increase in communal living by the 2040. There are already several small communes and one that is larger and well-known in Europe (Christiania in Copenhagen), and this style of living has been increasing in recent years. Some of these communes focus on intergenerational living and interpersonal relationships, others centralize around energy efficiency and sustainable living, and others yet are related to shared meals and child rearing. By 2040, I envision this increasingly being used as an alternative to the current types of adult aged and care facilities currently available in Denmark. I think that there will be an increasing trend towards societal values and community living, including people moving away from cities and back into rural areas.

In 2040, I will turn 58. I am using this as inspiration for an optimal design for housing when I am older and envisioning living there for at least a decade. This housing establishment is in the form of a community-style living arrangement in an area where there are around 50,000 inhabitants. Perhaps around 30 are living in this particular commune. People of all ages and functional levels are cohabitating and have a voice in how the community organizes and functions (very Danish of them!). There is a strong focus on sustainable and environmentally-friendly living (this will surely be a bigger “thing” in 2040, right?), including using only renewable energy, composting, organic gardening and eating, recycling, etc. This area has facilities for promoting exercise and socialization through outdoor play areas and green space for all ages. There will be other activity options, such as social clubs for children, women, or men, and focusing on a variety of options such as cooking, woodworking, painting, gardening, music, and so on.

The design of the area, being in Denmark – an area known for architecture and design, is minimalist, energy-efficient, with open rooms, few stairs in the common areas, lots of natural light, and incorporating living plants. As many of these common areas and homes will be built after 2016, universal design and design for all principles are incorporated. They meet laws and regulations for accessibility, including physical, mental, and cognitive. I envision, with the currently growing numbers of people living with dementia, that cognitive accessibility and dementia-friendly design will be mainstreamed and incorporated into the design and functionality of communities. Walking areas will be wide, smooth, well-lit, well-maintained, and with resting areas along the paths. Signage and signals will be large enough to be read by those with poorer vision and simple enough to understand for those with reduced cognitive ability.

I imagine grocery stores and shops that have areas or benches for customers to rest and even socialize, large print signs, shelves that are not too high or too low and wide aisles. I also imagine shops that are dementia-friendly, meaning they have undergone training and know how to accommodate customers with cognitive problems in an effective manner. I also imagine a society of people living there who are helpful, patient, engaged with each other, social and active, and who actively break down ageist stereotypes that older adults can’t work or contribute to society.

There will also be a strong use of technology incorporated both in the homes and in the community. The will be internet access freely available, and smart cities will have been realized. This means that crosswalks will sense when there are still people walking in cross walks and will wait until they are across before changing the traffic lights. There will also be cameras and sensors to detect falls and resulting inactivity (signaling assistance services to the location). Homes will have not only welfare technologies and Ambient Assisted Living functions we currently know of, but also smart surfaces which can clean and disinfect themselves and walls which can sense illness and infection and recommend and connect to relevant care services. Robotics will be used not only as welfare technologies to ease and enhance daily living, but also as companions and for socialization.

There will be multiple generations living in one household dwelling, who may or may not be related. When it comes to care, there will be several in the commune who are knowledgeable, experienced and willing to assist as far as they can. Denmark will continue to have a strong welfare state, providing assistance to those who need it in a personalized manner and at the point of care (most often in the home). With more internet connectivity and advanced eHealth systems, medications and other treatments can be delivered to and administered in the home as appropriate and the healing, rehabilitative, and/or palliative care outcomes can be monitored through sensors in the home and through wearable technologies. When the time of death comes, hospice services can be offered in the home and those who are actively dying will not be cloistered away from the rest of society – a benefit for both the individuals and the community.

This community I envision is accommodating to people of all ages and abilities, encouraging and allowing them to participate in family life, social activities, and their community as much as they desire. There will be less loneliness in these types of communities than in the general public now, a reduction in mental illnesses, and an increase in physical activity, leading to more active advanced years. The people living there will support each other and advocate for each other’s needs. There will be shared responsibilities for meals, household maintenance, child rearing, enhancing the well-being of others, and providing assistance to those who may need and wish to have it.

Feedback from classmates (funnily enough, two of my fellow learners who reviewed were also named Carrie/Keri 🙂 ):