Place attachment and design features in a rural senior cohousing community

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the design features that assist residents of a rural senior cohousing community with enhancement of place attachment. Participants for this study were recruited through purposive sampling. A total of 10 older adults, ages 60s to 80s, had resided for 6 months or more at a Midwestern senior cohousing community established in 2012. Data was collected through visual research methods, photo-elicitation, and interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and organized with the computer software NVIVO. Content analysis revealed themes that were categorized using the five dimensions of place attachment (place dependence, place identity, friend bonding, family bonding, and nature bonding). The findings showed that friend bonding and nature bonding were the most dominant dimensions, while family bonding was the least. Friend bonding was promoted with design features for spontaneous, proposed, and organized interaction. Nature bonding was enhanced by design features that allow connection and interaction with nature. Design features related to autonomy and transition were related to place dependence. Design features that enable personalization and connection to the past helped place identity. Family bonding was connected to policies that allow for family, rather than to the physical environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Place attachment
• senior cohousing
• aging

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Chris Salmon Professorship as well as, Lew Wentz Foundation through the Wentz Research Grant at Oklahoma State University.

Notes on contributors

Melissa M. Lies

Melissa M. Lies is an interior designer at KKT Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Oklahoma State University, focusing on design for special populations, specifically senior cohousing communities.

Mihyun Kang

Mihyun Kang, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising (Interior Design) in the College of Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University and holds the Chris Salmon Endowed Professorship. She focuses her scholarly work on design for special populations such as older adults and sustainable interior design.

Rachel K. Sample

Rachel K. Sample is an interior designer at Krause Interior Architecture in Phoenix, Arizona.  As an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Oklahoma State University, she investigated senior cohousing communities and the relationship between residents and the spaces around them.