Using Space Syntax in Close Interaction Analysis between the Elderly: Towards a Healthier Urban Environment

Abstract

Population aging has become an issue that the world should to face together. Public spaces in urban areas play an important role in stimulating social interactions for the elderly, especially close social interactions. Although a volume of studies have focused on the health of the elderly and the shaping of urban space, they have neglected the need for close social behavior of the elderly group. This analysis addresses the question: What are the principles to improve public space qualities which facilitate age-friendly social interactions for the elderly? Blind-dating activities in Beijing City work as an example of close social interactions between the elderly. Methods include a case study in Beijing, field survey, and Space Syntax with related tools. The survey took place from 1 July to 30 September 2022. Around 102 elderly men and 84 women aging from 55 to 75 participated in the survey process. Results indicate that the close social interaction can positively comfort the elderly’s physical and psychological situations. It could be a path for the single elderly group meet a partner, make new friends, and establish new social networks. Consequently, three principles, including obtaining the safety of public space, keeping greenery in the social environment, and providing suitable space for close social interactions are proposed towards age-friendly urban areas. These support the regeneration of the elderly’s social life and stimulate a chasing of happy later lives.

Analysis of Cross-Generational Co-Living Space Configuration in Residential Communities—Case Study in China and Italy Based on Space Syntax

“…Being closely connected with society and obtaining certain emotional feedback are basic life demands of people of all ages. This is often ignored by designers when they shape public spaces [51]. And while neighborhoods should be designed in a way that encourages people of all ages to leave their house every day to promote physical activity and social interaction, this may be encouraged in very different ways in different countries [52].…”

Architectural and Configurational Study of Senior Housing with Steel Volumetric Modular Technology: Towards Age-Ready and Process-Efficient Sustainable Living

“…Researchers used mathematical methods, including BIM, to analyze design options. They built virtual models to analyze walkability, accessibility, and traffic flow in interiors and specific spatial configurations using Space Syntax methodology [27][28][29][30]. Spatial configuration is a technical term used to describe how different spaces in a building are connected to one another as a network.…”

A Comparative Analysis of Museum Accessibility in High-Density Asian Cities: Case Studies from Seoul and Tokyo

“…Figure 2 shows the difference between these axial and segmented axial maps. Indicators calculated using this method are related to the social, cultural, and economic phenomena of cities [86][87][88][89]. A study examining the walking accessibility of museums in Seoul is highly relevant to our study.…”