AbstractFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INTER-GENERATIONAL LIVING THROUGH DESIGN Growing, preparing, and consuming are three facets of food that contribute to enhancing inter-generational community living. Food has the ability to operate as a tool for increasing the health of individuals, communities, cities and even regions. It can bring vitality and conviviality to urban life encouraging social exchange and interaction. This research explores the three facets of food; growing preparing, and sharing; through literature review of concepts and ideas that contribute to the designed environment. Each study is then analyzed using psychologist Abraham Maslow’s study of the hierarchy of human needs for individual generations as well as a mixed group of generations. Maslow’ study identifies the necessary elements that increase human satisfaction. In an example of this study, Love and Belonging, one of Maslow’s needs, can be achieved by a study shown to have improved relationships by eating dinner together every night for people of all ages. From this exploration and analysis, one can determine design elements and/or design solutions for inter-generational community living that improve the quality of life. The significance of this research is to provide designers with a tool that can be used to promote healthy environments that strengthen community life for inter-generational living and provide opportunities for multiple generations to grow and flourish together. |