| Title |
A Comparative Analysis of Biophilic Design Characteristics in Public Spaces of Elderly Care Facilities in Nanchang, China |
| Authors |
공운(Kong, Yun) ; 정미렴(Chung, Miryum) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.14774/JKIID.2026.35.4.068 |
| Keywords |
Biophilic design; Elderly care facilities; Public space; Older adults; Multiple-case comparison |
| Abstract |
As population aging continues to accelerate, increasing attention has been paid to the environmental quality of public spaces in elderly care facilities. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of biophilic design in the public spaces of three elderly care facilities in Nanchang, China?Taikang Community Gan Garden, Jiangtou Beiyuan Elderly Care Center, and Jiangxi Changtian Integrated Medical and Elderly Care Center?and to examine the perceptions, evaluations, and improvement needs of older residents and staff. A qualitative multiple-case study was conducted using spatial observations, on-site photographs, retrospective observation records, and semi-structured interviews.
Based on the analytical framework of direct experience of nature, indirect experience of nature, and experience of space and place, the study comparatively analyzed three types of public spaces: resting spaces, shared activity spaces, and outdoor natural spaces. The findings revealed that the differences among the three facilities were not primarily attributable to the presence or absence of natural elements, but rather to whether biophilic design characteristics were clearly expressed, consistently incorporated across different public spaces, and appropriately integrated with functional areas such as seating areas, reading spaces, activity areas, walking paths, and outdoor resting points. The study concludes that the effectiveness of biophilic design in elderly care facilities depends not simply on the provision of natural elements but on their integration into the everyday spatial experiences of older adults. Based on the characteristics of the three types of public spaces and the spatial conditions of each facility, differentiated design strategies are proposed to improve the quality of public spaces in elderly care facilities. |