Aging and Architecture Design Aids by Integral ‘Age-Proof’ Housing Models

Purpose: The aim was to offer integral design aids for ’age-proof’ housing. The main goal is to enable architectural de-signers to develop housing concepts of a higher than usual quality for aging users. Easy-to-follow models as design aids were developed in the context of R&D. These models indicate what to avoid, where protection is needed, and how to improve design in order to support aging people in their home. Those models are the central theme of the paper. Meth-od: Systematic integral design (Integral Bio-Logical Architecture - IBA) and model building, particularly for architectural concepts that develop devises or means according to principles of repetition and worldwide application of method of holistic participation (MHP). Results & Discussion: We focus on elementary conditions to underpin the residents staying healthy and reaching old age, based on a proper and vital built environment. We do not elaborate on possible installa-tions of valuable mechatronics or robotics for resident welfare. We discuss some design aids where the above mentioned design development methods were successfully used. We chose to focus on the principal conditions that determine the quality of sound architecture in relation to health, sustainability, and aging of residents and users. Aging of architecture is an historical objective in terms of interior, room, building, and town. Aging within architecture deals with the residents as principal participants. We conclude our systematically devised research approach by deducing models that can be used as check instruments and integral design aids for ’age-proof’ housing and that offer practical applications in the housing design process as well as being a useful topic for multidisciplinary discussion.