Sustainable Well-being of Rural Environment：Elderly-oriented Evaluation of Outdoor Public Space Design in Suburban Villages - A Case Study of Beijing

Abstract

As societal developments progress and perceptions shift, there is a discernible aging trend in the global population. This trend results in a growing number of elderly individuals left living alone, leading to the development of loneliness and isolation among older people, which has seriously affected their state of mind and body in their twilight years. In this study, Post-occupancy Evaluation (POE) was conducted to construct an evaluation index system based on the following standard layers: Accessibility, Security, Comfortableness, Identifiability, Convenience, Wellness and Aesthetics. The index system analyzes the suitability of elderly care in 15 villages in suburban areas of Beijing, China, and the key findings are threefold: (1) It is essential to improve the site’s defenses against particular climates according to the actual situation and enhance the comfort of the whole day and year. These are also factors that need to be considered in order to increase the motivation of older persons to use outdoor public spaces. (2) The evaluation results have been further refined and classified, unveiling four predominant concerns: Insufficient safety measures, Poor comfort, and Limited social interaction are the main factors affecting the motivation of the elderly to participate in outdoor activities. (3) After synthesizing the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis, the following conclusions were drawn: Recommendations to enhance these public spaces for the elderly in suburban villages emphasize: Reducing the safety hazards of the space, Improving the comfort of rest, relaxation, socializing, fitness, Avoiding the functional areas of motion and static influence each other, Paying attention to the healing function of the space to be effectively segregated. In conclusion, it is hoped that the results of the evaluation will improve the motivation of older people to engage in outdoor activities and guide them to face aging with a positive attitude.