Age-friendly cities: public and private space

Abstract

An age-friendly city is the result of an integrated approach centred on people’s needs, where user satisfaction is the main goal of design, both in public and private spaces. “Age-friendliness” must be founded on a multidisciplinary approach: if the city and the constructions represented (outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation; housing) are the “hardware” (tangible), then the age-friendly community (social participation; respect and social inclusion; civic participation and employment; communication and information) is the “software (intangible). Tangible and intangible issues must work together in order to effectively meet elderly people’s needs.