Architect Matthias Hollwich looked into the architecture that serves older adults and didn't like what he saw, according to an article on the NPR website.
So he and his architectural firm, HWKN, partnered with Bruce Mau Design to compile ideas in a book, New Aging, that serves as a guide for thinking about aging much earlier.
Hollwich, spoke with NPR about his ideas on the architecture of aging.
Q: What kind of spaces bring people together?
A: When you think about a hallway, it's used to go from your elevator to your apartment. But if you widen it up and create some seating areas or a shared kitchen, you might create a connection. These things are social offerings in a building, almost like a front porch. You sit there and you can wave to your neighbor and make contact. That creates familiarity and a social bond.
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