{Student}, a graduate of architecture from Poznan University of Technology, received an honorable mention in the international competition "Co-living for elderly", organized by UNI competitions. The task was to design a housing development for seniors in the Moroccan capital.
The population is aging, that's a fact. It is estimated that by 2050 the global population of people over 60 will reach 2.1 billion, which will significantly affect social, labor and financial changes. Significantly, 79 percent of seniors will live in emerging countries. Are we ready to meet this challenge?
A housing development for seniors in Rabat
© Nina Lipowska
coliving for seniors
Participants were confronted with a question about living in a residential community. Could coliving be a solution for people over 55? How to design a space with the needs of the elderly in mind? The goal of the competition organized by the UNI competitions platform was to create a design pattern for a residential community in Rabat in which age does not matter and the elderly can live with dignity and independence.
The goal of the competition was to create a design pattern for a coliving estate for the elderly
© Nina Lipowska
silver tsunami
The growth of the elderly population is a phenomenon that has become known as the silver tsunami for a reason. Although it stems from positive aspects such as the development of medicine and improved living standards, most countries and societies are not prepared to meet all the needs of their elderly citizens. Developing countries such as Morocco, which will experience the biggest jump in the population of the older generation in the near future, will face a particularly difficult challenge. Seniors, in addition to the impediments of poor health or fulfilling their daily obligations, increasingly face depression resulting from loneliness and a sense of social exclusion. Many of these problems are rooted in the inadequacy of housing to meet the current realities of social life, where the model of the multigenerational home has been outdated for years, and people interact only with their peers on a daily basis.
The estate has been divided into quarters and connected by common areas
© Nina Lipowska
integration of residents
Nina Lip owska's proposed project for a co-living housing estate for seniors is designed to help create a supportive and independent community through the use of the coliving apartment model. The work of the Poznań University of Technology graduate is a master's thesis done under the supervision of Dr. Marian Fikus . The apartment buildings were equipped with many common areas arranged in such a way as to ensure integration not only within the floor or building, but also within the quarter or the entire housing estate. The designer has designed small lounges on each floor and lounge-connectors between buildings so that neighbors can move freely within the quarter without having to go to the street. Such a solution is intended not only to facilitate integration between a wider group of people, but also to increase security in case they want to return home later. In addition, it is an architectural solution used in traditional Moroccan cities.
The author designed small lounges on each floor and lounge-connectors between the buildings
© Nina Lipowska
moroccan building tradition
The neighborhood's program was designed to offer residents a variety of leisure activities, such as art studios, sports and outdoor recreation areas. The architecture and urban structure of the complex is deeply rooted in Moroccan tradition. The residential parts have been designed in the shape of historic neighborhoods - medinas, and the houses refer to the country's traditional housing. The whole complex was designed using a traditional construction technique - rammed earth wall construction, which not only impresses with its natural structure, but, above all, has insulating properties useful in the hot climate.
Read also about the idea of connecting Poznań neighborhoods and the design of the Copenhagen bridge, which Nina Lipowska co-authored.
