The neighbourhood as a fitness circuit: a Singaporean case study of designing for active ageing

Population ageing is a rapidly emerging policy and planning challenge for cities around the world. Physical activity is one important piece of this puzzle, linked to benefits to quality of life, physical and mental health and long term functional independence of older adults. This case study considers how to facilitate such healthy ageing in the context of neighbourhood design. The research centres on the behaviour and preferences of adults aged 55+ in a microcosm of Singapore’s housing estates. A mixed methods approach is used to understand how older adults perceive, move within and utilize the facilities available in their immediate vicinity. The research finds ample opportunity for the design of fixed elements in the neighbourhood – stairs, walking paths, seating – to more productively engage older adults in physical activity. The findings are translated into the concept of the neighbourhood as a fitness circuit, focused on adaptations of existing elements within the built environment that are geared towards the physical development needs of older adults and integrated into common neighbourhood walking routes. They further highlight how we can continue to reframe and adapt infrastructure to meet the constantly evolving demographics of the city.