A Spatial Spectrum Framework for Age-Friendly Environments: Integrating Docility and Life Space Concepts

As societies confront rapid demographic aging, developing inclusive and age-friendly environments has become a central challenge in urban and housing research. This study proposes an integrated conceptual framework for Aging in Community, extending the traditional Aging in Place model through a multi-scalar perspective. Grounded in Lawton’s Docility Hypothesis and the Life Space Theory, the framework reinterprets aging not as a linear contraction but as a process of adaptive spatial integration across individual, communal, and urban scales. Drawing on spatial spectrum modeling and illustrative cases from South Korea, the analysis demonstrates how universal design principles and intergenerational living strategies can promote mobility, emotional well-being, and social participation among older adults. The study highlights the dynamic interaction between built environments and functional autonomy, revealing how spatial structure and perceived accessibility jointly sustain participation and independence. By conceptualizing Extended Community Space, the research bridges fragmented models such as AIP, NORC, and AFC into a cohesive continuum and positions Korea as an anticipatory laboratory for high-density aging societies. Ultimately, the AIC framework offers both theoretical and policy-level insights for advancing age-friendly design, guiding planners, architects, and policymakers toward adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable approaches that transform longevity into a foundation for collective well-being and social resilience.