Research On Retrofitting Design From Existing Buildings To Green Apartments For Elderly People

The process of population aging and urbanization in China are far faster than that in western countries,as it took only over one decade to step into the state of aging in China while decades or hundreds of years in western countries.China’s aging is characterized by fast speed and large quantity of elderly population.On the one hand,existing pension facilities and living environment are found difficult to meet the demand of population aging and physical and psychological needs of the elderly.On the other hand,the newly built pension facilities cannot live up to the current economic development of China.Therefore,to settle the elderly pension issue,new ideas and creative practice are encouraged in the process of urbanization thus to explore a way suitable for Chinese situation.In addition,with the adjustment and transfer of urban industries,considerable old buildings,in urgent need to be updated,are left behind in the urban town.Yet most elderly settlers are reluctant to leave their familiar surroundings.Based on these two points,this thesis aims to study how to transform the existing urban buildings into functional apartments for the elderly,thus to provide them a pleasant living space.Starting out with the current renovating state of existing buildings as well as specific needs of elderly apartments,this thesis clarifies the principles of existing buildings renovation,the application of green technology strategy as well as the design principles of elderly buildings.Through the study of Tianjin nursing home building,it is concluded that several types of buildings including multilayer light industrial workshops and office buildings,city hotels and kindergartens are appropriate for elderly-apartment-oriented renovation.With the target set,this thesis focuses on the analysis of the spatial structures of the given existing buildings,explores the methods of renovating to elderly buildings,and presents the corresponding strategies and graphic.Concerning the application of green technology,it summarizes and explains several suitable technologies for the elderly apartment,and then proposes corresponding strategies and methods.Then follows the case study of one hotel in Shenzhen which is analyzed to verify the above renovation principles and to conclude the whole research.