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Examines preferences for neighborhood open spaces in older adults, highlighting the need for restorative environments.
As society ages, neighborhood open spaces that offer restoration, reduce stress and attention fatigue, and thereby support older adults’ mental health become increasingly important. However, current research mainly focuses on young adults. Using a choice-based experiment (N = 301, Mage=75.5), we examined older adults’ preferences for eight design attributes. Distance from home proved significant, emphasizing the need for nearby restorative spaces. Preferences differed from patterns reported for younger adults: while greenery is valued across ages, openness, terraces and presence of others appear especially important for older adults’ restorative experiences. These findings inform age-inclusive restorative urban design.
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Grave et al. (2026) studied this question.
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