1. University of Sheffield School of Architecture
Dr Adam Park,
University of Sheffield School of Architecture

2. Why co-design?

3. Why co-design? Benefits Drawbacks
Helps to amplify the voice of third and fourth-agers (in terms of influencing housing policy and practice)
Dialogue helps to sensitise designers diverse + changing aspirations (as well as the realities of the ageing process)
Drawbacks
Difficult to recreate the inherent constraints in the professional practice of housing design + delivery
A time-consuming process to manage – not always possible to meet the expectations of all participants

4. Why co-design?
“From my point of view it has been mentally stimulating, but I think there was always a tension between your (DWELL’s) interest in the co-design process and our interest in seeing real change happen.”

5. * * * * DOWNSIZER HOMES Citywide group
(recruited from across Sheffield)
AGE-FRIENDLY
NEIGHBOURHOODS
Sharrow group
(Learn for Life)
Dore Group
Parson Cross + Foxhill
(Foxhill Forum) * * *

6. Housing pathways in later life
Downsizer
homes

7. Co-design process
Focus group discussions and preparation for design workshops

8. Study visits to general-needs and purpose-built retirement housing.
Visits with older participants have been important part of the process – it has helped to keep expand the conversation beyond technical/ management/ constructional issues.
‘Could I imagine living here?’

9. Building on ‘HAPPI’ principles
Brief development –
Building on ‘HAPPI’ principles
Long-term process and a dialogue between a small group of participants (around 12) and researchers/ designers.
Educating participants along the way to read drawings, critique schemes, and inform participants of current good practice
Important to keep listening to OP – easy to overlook the challenges of ageing (eg. WC provision) as well as their ideas for the future of specialised housing

10. Hands on design activities
Long-term process and a dialogue between a small group of participants (around 12) and researchers/ designers.
Educating participants along the way to read drawings, critique schemes, and inform participants of current good practice
Important to keep listening to OP – easy to overlook the challenges of ageing (eg. WC provision) as well as their ideas for the future of specialised housing
What does an ‘ideal’ home for a downsizer look like?
What sort of community do you want to create?

11. Housing typologies Low-rise – ‘Redesigning the bungalow’
Mid-rise – ‘The best of both worlds’
High-rise – ‘Cohousing lite’

12. Site visits to potential housing sites in Sheffield
Would this site be suitable for age-friendly housing?
Could this building be converted to residential apartments?

13. Feedback and review sessions
Have my comments been correctly interpreted by the designers?
How could the proposed site plan be improved?

14. Bringing it all together

15. Concluding thoughts