Older people and common spaces in collective housing in Chile: Challenges for regulatory and indicative instruments

Abstract

The world’s population is aging rapidly, and in Chile, it is foreseen that one in three people will be 60 or over in 2050. In this context, a key challenge of urban and architectural design is promoting built environments that are friendly for old age. In general, research on built environments and old age has tended to focus on neighborhood public spaces and the accessibility of homes and residences for older adults, paying little attention to the common spaces of collective housing, which can be important places for the daily activities of older people. In this framework, this research aims to analyze the extent to which regulatory and indicative instruments in Chile consider older people in the design of collective housing common spaces. 3 treaties and conventions, 10 regulatory instruments, and 7 indicative instruments were reviewed for this, using the qualitative analysis software atlas.ti. The results show that common spaces are not conceived for purposes beyond people’s circulation in the regulatory instruments. These are spaces that must be obstacle-free and whose features do not involve daily practices that entail social interaction or remaining in these. The analysis also shows that older people are absent from regulatory instruments. On the other hand, indicative instruments recognize and look to safeguard their rights and diversity. Finally, the findings indicate that efforts are needed so that the requirements of older people, which have been included in indicative instruments, are also integrated into regulatory instruments. This would promote active aging and allow older people to remain in their homes and neighborhoods.