| Title |
Spatial Characteristics of Age-Friendly Living Environments for Older Adults Using Photovoice |
| Authors |
곽페진(Guo, Pei-jin) ; 이민(Lee, Min) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.14774/JKIID.2026.35.5.074 |
| Keywords |
Photovoice; Age-friendly Living Environment; 15-Minute Walking Neighborhood; Spatial Types; Environmental Characteristics |
| Abstract |
This study explores the spatial characteristics of age-friendly living environments from the perspective of older adults’ everyday experiences. Using photovoice within a 15-minute walking neighborhood in Zhengzhou, China, older residents photographed and described places they regarded as important or inconvenient. Photographs, narratives, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews were analyzed through a framework that crosses five spatial types, defined by the primary purpose of use, with seven environmental characteristics; participant voting served only as supplementary evidence. The analysis showed that the same environmental characteristic was experienced differently depending on the function of the space and the stage of use. Destination spaces supported staying and activity, whereas constraints arose along access routes, such as stair-only entry to the waterfront, and after arrival, such as slippery dining-room floors and a lack of places to stay without spending money. On this basis, the study proposes a use-process design framework that links design directions to the stages of everyday use: continuity of walking routes for movement and entry, alignment of facility placement with activity sequences for staying and activity, and flexibility of shared spaces for interaction and participation, with perceptibility of visual information operating across all stages and in-use adjustment and maintenance sustaining these conditions over time. The framework shifts the unit of age-friendly design from individual facilities to the sequence of use and provides a basis for examining these relationships in other neighborhood settings. |