Increasing urban density and loss of open spaces are challenging city resilience, necessitating the use of urban porosity to manage water absorption, social crises, and environmental disasters. Extreme weather, intensified by climate change, brings significant water-related challenges, including floods and droughts, to urban areas. These conditions particularly affect the elderly, who may face greater vulnerability due to mobility issues, health concerns, and restricted access to urban amenities.
This workshop includes sponge city strategies to design small leftover spaces, aiming to align design with public preferences. Previously, these strategies have been tested in flood-prone areas, with less focus on drought conditions. This session, part of a broader research initiative, explores integrating green, blue, and green-blue strategies into urban design to enhance resilience and livability in extreme climates. It specifically studies perceptions of these strategies in climates with both excess and scarcity of water. The results can contribute to air quality, pollution reduction, and respiratory health, particularly in urban heat islands.
Prioritizing water-related strategies and focusing on elderly people as a vulnerable population, this workshop aligns with the theme of building climate-resilient and adaptable urban environments. Designing urban spaces to meet the needs and preferences of all ages, especially the elderly, encourages their participation in open spaces and social events, thus improving their mental and physical health.
The workshop aims to develop and assess sponge city design strategies for transforming small-scale leftover areas into resilient cities by considering the preferences and needs of citizens, especially the elderly population. It addresses the main research question: How can sponge city design interventions consider age-friendly cities, particularly elderly needs? Interactive activities will include understanding participants' familiarity with sponge city concepts and their preferences for urban spaces. Participants will also create collages to express their preferred design elements, offering both emotional and practical feedback on urban redesigns. The expected outcomes are detailed insights into the perceptions of elderly participants and actionable recommendations to boost urban resilience and age-friendliness.
Aligned with the ICUH 2024 focus on climate-resilient urban health, this proposal seeks to contribute to the practical strategies for creating sustainable, age-friendly environments.
