It’s not what, it’s how we’re building
We’re building houses for young executives, but we also need to start catering for older generations, writes Mikaela Wilkes.
By 2036, 22 per cent of the New Zealand population will be 65 or older – and that’s storing up a problem surrounding the type of homes we’re building.
‘‘There is a real danger that all the homes we’re building, and we’re going to build a lot in the near future, are designed only for the people who are buying them now, the young executives,’’ says Mat Brown, principal architect for Warren & Mahoney.
Modern houses often have small corridors and bedrooms and circulation areas. But design details like wide hallways are important to ongoing usability as ‘‘accessibility becomes a major issue as we start building up’’.
For example, in London, Brown made terraced houses with big cupboards suitable for a young family but with soft spots in the floors where an elevator could go in future.
Brown says New Zealanders design for single stages of life, then expect people to move on – like hermit crabs finding a new shell.
Apartments are more commonplace and more acceptable to to people between the age of retirement and wanting or needing to move into a retirement village. But even apartment developments are built ‘‘typically relying on the surrounding amenity, or ignoring the fact that amenity is needed,’’ says Brown. ‘‘Getting the big picture right is essential to wellbeing.’’
Simply building houses isn’t enough. We need to build neighbourhoods, explains Dr Caroline Miller, an associate professor in the Resource and Environmental Planning Programme. ‘‘Great neighbourhoods with a variety of amenities, in effect, compensate people for not having large areas of private open space.’’
Research reveals most New Zealanders value nearby public transport, shops, cafe´s and parks, and established trees.
‘‘To make higher density work we need to simultaneously upgrade the neighbourhoods where developments go in,’’ says Miller. ‘‘In most cases, we are seeing medium density developments pepper-potted through our cities and that never creates the best outcomes. However, upgrading and improving neighbourhoods takes money that most councils do not have.’’
Professor Christine Stephens, who specialises in health and ageing research, points out a new Foxton park with plenty of room for kids but no benches for their grandparents to sit and watch.
‘‘A little thought goes a long way. In the thick of building mania, we’re chucking up huge suburbs, or filling them in, with no facilities handy.’’
So, could developers learn from retirement villages, many of which build community into their design.
Alongside private villas and apartments, rest homes and dementia care, villages might offer easy access to farmers markets and community events, medical centres, pharmacies, cafe´s, gyms, hairdressing salons and bars.
Finding ways to encourage interaction between people in any development is crucial, says Brown.
‘‘Practically, that might mean the lifts in the lobbies are a bit bigger and have seats, so people dwell for a while and talk. Living spaces should connect to community spaces like parks, the local restaurant or cafe´ , the dairy and public transport within an easy walking distance.
‘‘That allows people to engage with other residents, rather than being hidden away.’’
The way forward is not rocket science. The sort of amenities you’d want in a retirement village are the sort of things you’d want in any village.
‘‘To build a community you need places where people can share experiences. Retirement villages understand that shared experiences build a sense of belonging, and they foster it by giving people places where they can meet, learn, eat and drink,’’ says Brown.
‘‘In 10 years time, the Boomer generation will be a huge part of the housing stock requirement. But we’re busy building houses that won’t meet that need.’’
‘‘A little thought goes a long way. In the thick of building mania, we’re chucking up huge suburbs, or filling them in, with no facilities handy.’’ Christine Stephens. left