Research On Elderly-oriented Design Of Residential Outdoor Environment In Xuzhou

In the global aging context, population aging in China arises much more vigorously and quickly than the development of economic society. From the perspective of a designer, how to improve the living environment of the elderly and create an outdoor environment in which they will be looked after properly, ensured with medical care, they can enjoy their life, learn what they need and accomplish what they want have been an important issue. By summarizing the background, object, purpose, significance and methodology of researches on elderly-oriented residential outdoor environment, this paper analyzed the requirements of the old for their outdoor space on account of their basic characteristics. Meanwhile, investigations were conducted in four residential areas in Xuzhou city; the discovered existing problems were summarized and analyzed. Suggestions on elderly-oriented design of community outdoor space were proposed based on studies of the following four aspects. Firstly, according to literature review and local features such as culture and climate, summarize the principles applicable to elderly-oriented outdoor space design in Xuzhou as the theoretical foundation of the research. Secondly, study the physiology, psychology and behavior of the aged, and accordingly analyze their requirements on outdoor space of living areas. Thirdly, select four residential areas in Xuzhou as research objects, and sum up existing problems in public activity space by methods including questionnaire, interview, field survey and in-site measurement etc. Finally, analyze the effect of outdoor environment on life, activity, and going out of the senior, emphasize its importance and necessity. Suggestions for design and research are concluded as follows: the elderly citizens require convenient, safe and pleasing living space; multifunctional and compound activity space; safe, reasonable and perfect walking space; comfortable, healthy and secure green space; accessible and elderly-oriented rest space; coordinating, colorful, recognizable and practical light, color, signs and architectural sketches. This paper is expected to provide a reference for afterward elderly-oriented outdoor space design.There are 109 figures, 23 tables and 75 references attached in this paper.