AbstractINTERSTITIAL SPACE TO PROMOTE SOCIAL HEALTH IN INTER-GENERATIONAL LIVING ENVIRONMENTS
Intergenerational living can be described as living together in a model of cooperation, interaction, and exchange that facilitate mutual support and relationships which benefit both individuals and their communities (Generations United). Social networks and community support are necessary to maintain close relationships, purposeful life, and general well being (Rowe). Such relationships should be facilitated by the design of space (Osmond), thus made a part of the everyday life. The question becomes how design can facilitate these relationships. This project is based on the premise that interstitial space, defined as "in-between" spaces that connect different realms, in particular should employ such design strategies. The reasoning is that the adjacency of varied activities creates the potential for particularly enriching interactions. The entrance to a building not only mediates the transition between public and private realms; it also provides a local for residents of the two worlds to meet on neutral ground. Similarly, a corridor is not only a space to move through, but also where chance encounters with other travelers occur. Even within the home certain areas act as a center and bring members of the family together. The ultimate goal of this research is to, through the analysis of precedent, research studies, and past theories, determine strategies for socially successful living environments. Then the project proposes to refine these strategies through design exploration the result being a model for successful inter-generational living. |