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Building a Community for the Senior Citizens Using the Idea of Vertical Farms



Author(s)

Shu-Ying Tsai and Yi-Shan Tsai

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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2015.06.010

Department of Architecture, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10670, Republic of China

Global population growth and urbanization have posed increasing threats to the ecological environment. In an aging society, high-density living spaces have resulted in intensifying housing concerns for urban senior citizens. Among the rapid urban development, addressing the demands of senior citizens for suitable living environments and enabling senior city dwellers to engage in diversified social interactions are concerns that necessitate public attention. This study introduced the idea of the “vertical farm” to the living environments of senior citizens. By integrating vegetation appreciation and physical labor, vertical farming allows senior citizens to experience joy and a sense of accomplishment. In addition, these farms can change the monotonous and gloomy exteriors of concrete buildings. By conducting in-depth interviews with 12 senior citizens residing in the Happiness Community in Taipei City, by building vertical farms, senior citizens can experience joy and a sense of achievement at the psychological level and communicate with families, friends and neighbors in the community at a social level. At the environmental level, comprehensive ecological communities can be achieved. We explored how promoting vertical farms in a living environment can affect senior citizens at the psychological, social and environmental levels. The results can be used to build vertical farms that accommodate the needs of senior citizen living environments.

Vertical farm, senior citizens,urbanization.