Literature Review

Architecture for the Elderly : Through the lens of

Multisensory Design

Name: Muskaan Rampal

Roll Number: A/3137/2018
Year: 5th Year
Date of Submission: 18th June 2022

RESEARCH QUESTION : With the world experiencing a dramatic shift in the

demographic trends, what role can architects play in redefining spaces for the welfare of
the aging population through multisensory design?
KEYWORDS : Multi sensory design, elderly, physical and mental wellness, barrier free
architecture
Our world is quickly aging, and the number of people over the age of 65 is increasing at
an unprecedented rate. In today’s time there are 703 million people aged 65 or older, a
number that is projected to reach 1.5 billion by 2050. The world’s senior population is
growing in absolute and relative terms, according to a recent analysis, with the fastest
growth rates in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. (Our
world is growing older: UN DESA releases new report on aging | UN DESA | United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2022)

The population’s aging phenomenon is occurring worldwide. We say phenomenon

because all population pyramids are reversing, which means birth rates are steadily
decreasing over the years, and at the same time, life expectancy has been increasing.
Thus, the elderly population is growing at a faster rate than children.
Our old age is the result of our environment and the choices we have made. According
to the WHO (World Health Organization), six items influence how we will age. These
determinants are social, economic, behavioral, personal, the available social and health
services, and the physical environment. We can reach old age as active individuals or
as having an advanced level of frailty that compromises our functional abilities. To keep
the elderly population healthy and active is a necessity and not a
luxury.(https://www.archdaily.com/900713/how-to-design-for-senior-citizens)
However the parameters used in designing any built environment are based on normal,
healthy and active human beings. The architects as well as the end users are just
unaware that all of us will age sooner or later. In recent years we have all witnessed a
spectacular improvement in medical technology which resulted in a change of world
demographics dramatically. (DESIGN & ENVIRONMENT FOR ELDERLY, 2022)
As one grows older they gradually lose a lot of abilities in daily life activities. Many
chronic diseases and disabilities become more prevalent as people get older. This
situation has an impact on how elderly individuals interact with their surroundings. They
may struggle to move around (mobility deficits), manipulate objects (dexterity deficits),
and receive accurate information from others (sensory deficits). (2022)
When it comes to designing for this group, architects have a whole new role to play.
Architects have found themselves confronted with new and intriguing design difficulties
for seniors, and they are inventing fresh blueprints that are modern and ingenious. (How
Architects Design For An Aging Population, 2022)

With the increasing worldwide population of older adults, interventions that directly
affect their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being are needed to help them
keep or regain their independence and autonomy.
Multisensory stimulation in older persons is an effective practice that helps to train the
mind and motor skills through elements that stimulate the senses of the people.
However, the majority of architecture is designed for the eye of the beholder, and tends
to neglect the nonvisual senses of hearing, smell, touch, and even taste. (2022)
Our understanding and experience of the built environment primarily revolve around
multisensory, emotional, and symbolic modalities of communication with the built
environment. The immediacy of people's multisensory and affective experiences can be
tapped into, through architecture. Contemporary urban environments are often either
sensory overwhelming or depleting resulting in physical, mental and emotional stress.
Furthermore, given the decrease in sensory, motor, and cognitive functions
accompanied by aging, meaningful and active conversation with all environmental
stimuli is crucial in mediating urban experience and, ultimately, molding the overall
well-being of people of all ages. (Studying Multi-Sensory Neighborhoods and Aging-Friendly
Design: Methodological Propositions | ScholarBank@NUS, 2022)