Studying Multi-Sensory Neighbourhoods and Ageing-Friendly Design: Methodological Propositions

Abstract

Our understanding and experience of the built environment primarily revolve around multi‐sensory, emotional and symbolic modes of exchange with space. Architecture has immense potential to engage the immediacy of people’s multi-sensory and affective experiences. However, due to rapid growth and transformation, contemporary urban environments are often either sensory overwhelming or depleting, resulting in physical, mental and emotional stress. Moreover, considering the associated declines in sensory, motor and cognitive functions with ageing, meaningful and active dialogue with all environmental stimuli plays a critical role in mediating urban experience and, ultimately, shaping the overall sense of well-being of all age groups. Common approaches to understanding, measuring and assessing dense urban environments usually focus on physical properties expressed vis-à-vis numerical indicators. On the other hand, qualitative aspects of density and intensity arising from users’ perception and multi-sensory experience are largely neglected, in spite of often being more evident and impactful than the underlying density numbers. In response, we focus on investigating the relationship between the hard and soft aspects of built environment shaped though sensory experience with an aim to enrich these largely ignored aspects and less tangible features of city life and which form important contributors to physical, psychological and social well-being and healthy ageing. This study employs phenomenological approaches to include ethnographic research and on-site observation, and also combines quantitative and qualitative methods comprising a range of mapping, measurement techniques, surveys, walk-along interviews and spatial analysis to document and assess the sensorial qualities of two housing neighbourhoods in Singapore. It aims to develop an urban design framework that sets multi-sensory experience as a means of documenting and guiding place-making practices for diverse and active elderly communities. Apart from engaging with residents’ olfactory experiences in the neighbourhood, we include how the other senses work conjunctionally towards apprehending multi-sensory urbanism in residential areas.