A Diversity-Sensitive Home: Age-friendly Design Interventions in a Super-Diverse Neighbourhood in Belgium.

Abstract

Recent research shows that many older adults with a migration background prefer to age in place, often in the familiar dwelling in the country of settlement. However, two issues arise: first, our ageing population is becoming more diverse, yet not much is known about the home experiences and housing preferences of older adults with a migration background. Second, older adults often live in dwellings that do not accommodate ageing in place, highlighting the need for age-friendly design. Thus, further research on the ways in which (interior) architects can take super-diversity into account is needed. To explore age-friendly design in a super-diverse context, a research-by-design study in Kolderbos, a social housing neighbourhood in the super-diverse city Genk (Belgium) was conducted. The first part included a guided tour through Kolderbos, creating a scale model of the area, walking interviews with older migrants, and observations. The data was analysed both inductively and deductively. In the second part, a design process exploring four design interventions was set up based on the qualitative analysis and the use of personas. These personas emerged from previous in-depth interviews with older migrants (N = 37). The results discuss four design scenarios in terms of their age-friendliness, their impact on residents’ subjective wellbeing and their sense of home. In addition, this research-by-design study allows for further reflection on the importance of considering diversity in age-friendly design to support ageing well in the right place for a diverse ageing population.