Integrating Wisdom - promoting wellness through the design of an intergenerational preschool
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Architecture and urban design (MPARC), MSc
Publicerad
2023
Författare
Schultz, Linnéa
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
In early 2019, four per cent of the Swedish population
reported feelings of loneliness, and almost four times
as many (15 per cent) among those 75 and older
(SCB, 2019). In Sweden, most interventions to reduce
loneliness among the elderly focus on the individual
or connecting with people of similar ages. However,
recent studies have highlighted the effectiveness of
intergenerational activities in reducing loneliness,
as evidenced by successful collaborations between
preschools and nursing homes (Kernan & Cortellesi,
2020; Drury et al., 2017).
This master’s thesis presents an alternative to
the increasingly popular collaborations between
preschools and nursing homes that centres around
seniors that live at home. The work continues to
develop the concept of co-using preschool spaces
to encourage intergenerational meetings and
consequently improve the health and well-being of
communities.
This master thesis highlights the benefits of
intergenerational programmes. It explores the
potential use of the preschool as a hub for
intergenerational meetings through literature reviews,
studies of reference projects and interviews with
stakeholders. The research focuses on bringing
generations together through co-use to support
intergenerational learning and promote wellness
among preschool children, seniors and staff.
The result of the investigation is a design proposal for a
new preschool in Vättersnäs, Jönköping. The proposal
includes multifunctional spaces for the community
with a core focus on spatial qualities and layout for
interactions between generations. Finally, this paper
questions the current generational separation made
in our society and highlights the benefits of blurring
the line between them.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
intergenerational, preschool, children, elderly, co-use