Post-Domestic Ageing. Living Indoors (Without) Looking Outside? Architectural Design and IT Devices for a New 'Ageing in Place'

Ageing in place, in a domestic environment rather than in an institution, is people’s preference in an ageing planet. This raises post-domestic design challenges as the home becomes now also a place for care, and most dwellings are not prepared to respond to the growing needs of fragile older people. In this paper we will explore the importance of architectural layouts, strategies, and the incorporation of IT technology for smart homes, as possible answers to these new requirements. The importance of façade depth as a new design strategy for lookout spaces will be discussed in terms of the specific requirements of older residents who are homebound for health reasons or safety rules (as pandemic requirements), thus becoming places for a healthy connection with the outside world. Homebound interior design also requires a new approach: COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the new preference of working from home, no matter the age. New residential spaces are no longer exclusively domestic, and they require IT tech support for different activities. Flexibility of spaces is now a basic requirement: quickly changing or adapting domestic spaces with minor investments under a life-cycle design logic, keeping them safe for all, from grandchildren to grandparents, must become a ground rule for the future. In this paper we will review recent findings on how the post-domestic space must be designed to host a comfortable and active ageing for senior citizens who choose to age in place.