When we talk about “(Independent Living)”, we usually think of “self-care”, “non-reliance” and “functional recovery”.

However, this study proposes that real aging-friendly design should not only pursue “complete independence”, but should turn to a more realistic state – Positive Interdependence.

This study invited 12 participants with “informal care experience” (who have taken care of parents or family members) to design how to grow old at home through co-creation workshops. The point is not to ask “what equipment do you need”, but: if you are old one day, how will you plan your home?

The research method is very interesting. Participants first position the “future self” on the timeline, discuss the ideal living environment, and then use modular floor plans and ready-made intelligent product catalogs to jointly build future residential plans, and classify technologies as “must-have” and “can-do without”. The whole process revolves around three microscales: neighborhood and community. The results show several important discoveries.

The core contribution of the article is to reframe the “independent life”. It no longer emphasizes the complete independence of the individual, and proposes that aging-friendly housing should become a system that supports activities, relationships and dignity, and establishes a network of interdependence between digital and physical space.

For the study of inclusive construction environment, this means that aging design is not just about adding handrails or installing sensors, but thinking about “how space supports the connection between people and the continuation of future lifestyles.”