An Assessment of Sheltered Housing Design in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Abstract

This article presents a UK-based research that has studied the existing sheltered or assisted living housing population and its future housing options and preferences. This meets an identified need to know and understand users' needs and requirements in much more detail that outlines what is liked and disliked by older people about sheltered housing, so that those who plan and design such housing can be aware of their views. The study also sought to understand the architects' challenges in designing and adapting this type of housing. The sheltered housing managed by housing associations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was assessed through a series of site visits, structured interviews, and a focus group with stakeholders. Findings revealed older users' keen interest in participating in their housing needs assessment, identified building design concerns and provided recommendations for potential design guidelines.

KEYWORDS:

• sheltered housing
• assisted living
• architecture
• Belfast
• UK

Notes

^aBy number of respondents and respective percentages.

^aData given by number of respondents and respective percentages.

1. Third age refers to the later stages of active life and usually includes people between 50 being the boundary (depending on the country, such as in Denmark and Sweden, where the age is 55) and 80 years old. The fourth age group comprises those older than 80 (Clayton, 2005).

2. Lifetime Homes housing design concept was developed in the early 1990s by Habinteg Housing Association and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/