school of the built environment designing …oisd.brookes.ac.uk/news/resources/lynne.pdfschool of...
TRANSCRIPT
School of the Built Environment
DesigningDesigningNeighbourhoods for LifeNeighbourhoods for Life
Lynne Mitchell, OISD:WISELynne Mitchell, OISD:[email protected]@brookes.ac.uk
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
WISEWellbeing in Sustainable Environments research unit
Investigating impacts of the built environment on QoL, wellbeing, physical & mental health
• at all scales from urban form to detailed design
• indoors and outdoors
Evidence-based design guidance, CPD sessions and consultancy
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
WISEInforming policy & practice
• Commissioned by Housing Corp to provide guidance to housing associations on designing dementia-friendly housing schemes
• Dementia research quoted & referenced in• CLG National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing
Society: Lifetime Homes, Lifetime neighbourhoods• Welsh Assembly Government Planning & Inclusive
Design (Access Statements)
• Member of • TCPA/RIBA Eco-towns housing and inclusive
design worksheet working groups• RTPI Quality & Density Task Group
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Neighbourhoods for LifeDesigning the outdoor environment to improve the quality of life of older people with dementia
• Research project funded by EPSRC EQUAL, 2000-2003
I’DGO (Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors)
• Research Consortium funded by EPSRC EQUAL, 2003-2011
• www.idgo.ac.uk
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Neighbourhoods for LifeOutdoor equivalent of Lifetime Homesto support independence in old age
Extension of inclusive design concept to neighbourhood scale
Easy for older people with and without dementia to access, find their way around, use and enjoy and, therefore, inclusive for all
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Why design for older people?Increasing number of older people in UK,especially over the age of 85For first time, now more people over age of 65 than under 16Likelihood of developing dementia escalates with age
Prevalence Age1 in 1,000 40-651 in 50 65-701 in 20 70-801 in 5 80+
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Why design for older people?Getting outdoors has many positive benefits
• psychological, physiological, social and physical
Design of built environment directly impacts on people’s ability to get out and about and can effectively make frail older people housebound
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Challenges
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Design challengesOlder people are not a homogenous group of people
• Vast age range • Great variety of abilities, lifestyles,
health and mobility levels
But OP face certain physical and mental problems as the illness progresses
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
MobilityOlder people often
• have reduced strength & stamina• take longer to reach destination than average fit younger
adult • develop a shuffling, unsteady gait &/or stooped posture
OP with bone or joint problems • are vulnerable to falls• cannot walk far without pain • struggle to walk up hills • need to rest roughly every 10 mins• are less likely to go out daily
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Aural and visual impairmentSome hearing loss is often the first major physicalproblem as one ages, especially for men
20% aged 65+ have sight loss that significantly affects their daily life
• 98% aged 65+ wear glasses
People aged 60+ need 3-5 times more light than younger adults
Greater sensitivity to glare and contrasts of dark and light
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Impaired depth perceptionSharp colour contrasts or patterns on ground can beperceived as steps or holes
Deep shadows contrasting with bright light also seen as level changes
Shiny surfaces look wet & slippery
Busy patterns can cause dizziness
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Colour agnosiaReduced colour sensitivity due to yellowing of lens of the eye as it ages
Hard to distinguish colours of similar dark or light tones
Combinations of violets, blues and greens hardest to see, reds and oranges easiest
But clear colour contrast is even more important than choice of colour
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
General mental declineOP can take longer to process, react to and recall information or to learn new information
OP can struggle to remember names of people, places and objects (semantic memory) or future tasks e.g. keeping appointments (prospective memory)
Implications when out and about e.g. using pedestrian crossings, finding the way
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
DementiaIrreversible and incurableAlzheimer’s disease is the most common formCognitive, behavioural and personality changesConfusion, spatial orientation and memory problemsSensitivity to stimulationGradual and erratic physical deterioration
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Some findingsOur participants
• regularly went out alone and generally enjoyed going out
• used a variety of wayfinding techniques• but struggled to remember routes and
purposes of trips• were not able or willing to use maps, written
directions or complicated signage
• recognised and remembered streets, places, buildings and features when
• they were in designs familiar to OP• they were regularly encountered
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Some findingsOur participants
• no longer drove or used public transport unaccompanied
• avoided new or socially demanding destinations• became anxious or disoriented in complex or busy places
or when startled by loud noises• were less aware of potential dangers and of losing the
way
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
6 design principlesNeighbourhoods for Life are
• familiar• places, buildings and features are recognisable to OPwD and
in designs familiar to them• legible
• a straight-forward network of routes and junctions helps OPwD to know where they are and which way they need to go
• distinctive• the streets give a clear image of where they are, what their
uses are and where they lead• accessible
• OPwD are able reach, enter, use and walk around places they need or wish to visit, regardless of physical, sensory or mentalimpairment
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
6 design principlesNeighbourhoods for Life are also
• comfortable• OPwD are able to enjoy being out of
the house and to visit places of their choice without physical or mental discomposure
• safe• OPwD are able to use, enjoy and
move around the neighbourhood with fear of tripping, falling, being run-over or attacked
68 design recommendations but 17 key features
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features 1. Small blocks laid out on an irregular grid(legibility)
• Varying lengths (60m to 100m)• Uncomplicated junctions, preferably staggered,
forked and t-junctions rather than crossroads
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features 2. A hierarchy of familiar types of streets, including high streets and residential side streets (familiarity)
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features3. Gently winding streets (legibility)
4. Varied urban form and architecture that reflects local character (distinctiveness)
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features5. Mix of uses, including plenty of services, facilities and open space (accessibility)
• Housing located no further than 500m from local primary services & facilities including:• general food store• Post Office• GP surgery/health clinic• bank• green space• public transport stops
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features5. cont. Mix of uses, including plenty of services, facilities and open space (accessibility)
• Housing located no further than 800m from local secondary services and facilities, including:
• shopping centre• a variety of open space: public squares,
parks, allotments, recreation grounds, • library• dentist and optician• places of worship• community and leisure facilities
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features6. Permeable buffer zones between busy roads and footways e.g. trees, grass verge (comfort & safety)
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features7. Buildings/facilities designed to reflect uses (familiarity & legibility)
• not a case of traditional versus modern but clarity of good design
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features8. Obvious entrances to buildings (legibility & accessibility)
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features9. Landmarks and visual cues (legibility & distinctiveness)
• Variety of historic, civic and distinctive buildings and structures
• Variety of places of interest and activity, e.g. nature reserves, tennis courts
• Variety of aesthetic and practical features in designs OPwD are familiar with and can understand
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features10. Special/distinctive featuresat junctions (legibility)
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features11. Wide, flat, smooth, non-slip footways
• Separate to cycle lanes• Clean and well maintained• Plain and non-reflective • In clear colour and textural
contrast to walls and traffic calming measures
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features12. Frequent pedestrian crossings with audible and visual signals suitable for OP (safety)
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features13. Level changes only when unavoidable (accessibility)
• Gentle slopes rather than steps for slight level changes
• Choice of steps and ramp with max. gradient 1:20, for greater level changes
• Steps/ramps clearly marked and well lit with handrails and non-slip, non-glare surfaces
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features14. Clear signs throughout
(legibility)• Minimal signs giving simple,
essential and unambiguous information at decision points
• Directional signs on single pointers
• Locational signs for primary services perpendicular to the wall
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features14. cont. Clear signs throughout
(legibility)• Large, realistic graphics in clear
colour contrast to background, preferably with dark lettering on a light background
• Non-glare lighting and non-reflective coverings
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features15. Sturdy public seating with back rests and preferably arm rests (comfort)
• Every 100-125m• In warm, soft materials e.g. wood
OISD:WISE, School of the Built Environment
Key design features16. Enclosed bus shelters, with seating and transparent walls or large clear windows (comfort & safety)
17. Ground level toilets (accessibility, comfort & safety)