Development of an Older Adult Community Centre Based on Biophilic Architecture Principle to Improve the Quality of Life

While living a retirement life, most older adults are facing obstacles from psychological and biological factors. Persons over 65 need to fight off stress and depression as it can weaken the immune system. One of the ways to reduce stress is providing a warm relationship that can be achieved through a place like older adult community center. A specific design of community center is needed to bring a significant impact for the older adult health and happiness. The purpose of this study is to define architectural design strategies that can improve older adult quality of life within a community center. This research was looking into principle of Biophilic Architecture, in which introduce some design elements to connect older adult with nature and provide healthy environment. The research method is using literature study to describe the design elements of Biophilic Architecture. This is deepened by a study of precedents in finding programs and activities that can calm or invite the older adult to be active in socializing to increase their quality of life. The research present strategies for designing an older adult community center with Biophilic Architecture principle. The results show some strategies to promote healing and increase collaboration in older adult environment. Those strategies include the strategy for site development, materiality, activities, and programme, building massing and accessibility in which can help in reducing their loneliness and stress, and achieve a better quality of life. Those strategies applied to make a prototype of Biophilic older adult community center project. The project implemented principles such as visual connection with nature, biomorphic form, material connection with nature, sensory stimuli, well-ventilated, daylight and water element for calming. The design in this project demonstrates how the green buffer, combination of indoor and outdoor activities, and space for social activities can improve the quality of older adult’s life.