A Study On The Elderly-oriented Reconstruction Strategies For The External Public Places In Xia Gang Area Of Xiamen City

In recent years,the aging population has been more and more important.Especially in some old urban areas,the aging problem is particularly prominent.As the old city was built earlier,the public spaces were lagging behind to meet the growing needs for the elderly.Therefore,comparing to construct new facilities,the elderly-oriented reconstruction of the external public spaces for those old urban areas is the best solution of the top priority which invests less and can meet the most needs of the elderly in the shortest time.This thesis takes "Xia Gang Area” of Xiamen city as the study object.Because that area is the most valuable public space in Xiamen,and it has a high degree of aging as well as regional features which make the study more practical and has the value of promotion.This study is based on the disciplines of architecture and urban planning,combing with other disciplines,such as gerontology,demography,physiology,psychology,sociology and so on.And it is also rely on the methods of data statistics,field survey and chart analysis.And this thesis will focus on the elderly-friendly places in this area.First of all,by analyzing the regional features of the external public spaces and the needs of the elderly,and with the further research and summary on the elderly-friendly space elements,there are three types of external public spaces for the elderly which including the waterfront park space,open space and the space outside the building.This thesis will focus on them to carry out the following study.Combining with the research in Xia Gang Area,this thesis will analyze the current situationsinthree types of spaces and understand different requirements and functions in these places.In addition,to prepare for presenting the subsequent reconstruction strategies,the thesis will also analyze the reconstructability of these spaces and summarize the problems in these spaces,such as functional problems,the usage of space,requirements,and streamline problems.At last,according to the features and requirements in three types of external public spaces,specific reconstruction strategies will be produced.Firstly,for the waterfront space,we will strengthen the shoreline design,the sense of space experience,and the connections among spaces.With the park space,we will emphasize the theme of the park and the specificity of the street garden,and enhance the elderly-orientation of landscape design,equipments and ancillary facilities.Secondly,the central part,the sense of the space experience and the level of comfort and safety of the open space will be highlighted.Thirdly,as for the space outside the building,specific cases require specific analysis.And domestic and foreignexamples will be provided to demonstrate the proposed reconstruction strategiesare feasible.