A high-density compact city may not necessarily promote beneficiary community interaction. Hong Kong is in the trend of “Double Ageing” where population and building stock are ageing simultaneously at a rapid speed. The planning and design of community facilities based on population cohort demarcation is no longer suitable. Could Hong Kong as a vertical city provide space for diversified uses within a high-rise building and thus promote the making of a vibrant intergenerational community in a vertical form? This season’s “One from Hundred Thousand” social innovation symposium and its co-creation workshops would explore a new model of vertical intergenerational community for Hong Kong. We hope the making of a vertical intergenerational community would enable vibrant interaction and co-living across generations to advance the wellbeing of both the elderlies and the youths.

Co-creation Workshop (September 2020)

Using Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association (HKYWCA) Yau Yat Chuen Centre and Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association (AKA) Social Service Centre as sites, the co-creation teams with NGO staff, youths and elderlies explored how to create an intergenerational and an interactive model of co-living among different age groups using design thinking methods.

Co-creation teams ideated various software and hardware design concepts to enable intergenerational interaction and cohesion. These design concepts are elaborated in further detail in the presentation that can be downloaded below.

AKA Service Centre
Intergenerational functions provided throughout the building	Swapping the position of the proposed therapeutic garden and hall to minimise the visual impact on the surrounding residents
Integrating the building's architecture to the iconic staircase in the community	Brighter, more open interior design to complement the "high-end elderly care home" concept

HKYWCA Yau Yat Chuen Service Centre
New intergenerational activities such as camping in the central podium can activate the space during its off-hours	More active and social activities can be done in the lower levels while solitary activities can be done on the upper levels
Redesigning the garden as an intergenerational social space with increased visibility from the inside	The rooftop is currently unused but has potential to be a popular gathering point for various intergenerational activities

Symposium (7th October 2020)