PROMOTING HEALTHY AGING THROUGH TRANSPORTABLE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT COMMUNITIES A DARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI’I AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF ARCHITECTURE May 2017 By Alessandra C. Olsen DArch Committee: Joyce Noe, Chairperson Mariel Moriwake Christy Nishita Keywords: Accessory Dwelling Unit, Transportable, Flexible Architecture Abstract Due to Hawai’i’s aging population, high cost of living, housing shortage, and limited public transportation, aging in Hawai’i can be challenging. The sprawling suburban neighborhoods commonly found throughout Oahu can lead to the social and physical isolation of many elderly individuals. Isolation which can possibly lead to mental stress with anxiety and depression, can also have negative impacts on physical health. The purpose of this dissertation is to create home and community environments that promote healthy aging. The housing prototype that was explored is an accessory dwelling unit, (ADU), that can be placed on a single-family home lot, or transported to a planned community site comprised of similar ADU units. The uniqueness of this ADU home, is that it can be moved intact, thus allowing the occupant to move locations, yet remain in the same home surroundings. The relocation of the ADU to the planned community will allow the occupant more opportunities for social interaction, physical activity, horticultural therapy, and access to nearby amenities. Therapeutic healthy aging activities are also promoted within the interior of the units through adaptable furniture pieces. Precedent studies of adaptable interior environments, transportable homes, and Metabolic architecture were analyzed for their application to the design of this housing prototype. This dissertation is a new housing model for aging in Hawai’i. i Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. ii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... v List of Tables .................................................................................................................. viii Preface: Motivation ......................................................................................................... ix 1 Chapter 1: Who & Why ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Demographic Information ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 Housing Information ............................................................................................... 3 1.3 Cost of Living ......................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Desires of Oahu’s Elderly ....................................................................................... 5 2 Chapter 2: Current Available Housing and Care .................................................. 7 2.1 Aging in Place (Single Family Home or Apartment) ............................................. 7 2.2 Adult Day Care Centers .......................................................................................... 9 2.3 Adult Day Health .................................................................................................. 10 2.4 Assisted Living ..................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Community Care Foster Family Homes ............................................................... 14 2.6 Institutional Care ................................................................................................... 15 2.7 Hospice ................................................................................................................. 16 2.8 Common Issues with Current Housing ................................................................. 17 2.9 Changes in Technology & Changes in Healthcare ............................................... 17 3 Chapter 3: Understanding Aging .......................................................................... 20 3.1 Current Age Categorizations................................................................................. 20 3.2 Physical Health ..................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Designing for the Aging Body ...................................................................... 26 3.2.1.1 Mobility Loss ........................................................................................ 28 3.2.1.2 Strength and Fitness Loss ..................................................................... 29 3.2.1.3 Dexterity loss ........................................................................................ 29 3.2.1.4 Sense of Touch ...................................................................................... 30 3.2.1.5 Temperature Sensitivity ........................................................................ 31 3.2.1.6 Breathing Issues .................................................................................... 31 3.2.1.7 Incontinence .......................................................................................... 31 3.2.1.8 Eyesight................................................................................................. 32 3.2.1.9 Hearing loss .......................................................................................... 32 3.2.1.10 Sense of Smell....................................................................................... 33 3.2.1.11 Nutrition ................................................................................................ 33 3.3 Mental Health........................................................................................................ 34 3.4 Designing for the Aging Mind .............................................................................. 36 3.4.1 Habit .............................................................................................................. 36 3.4.2 Memory ......................................................................................................... 40 4 Chapter 4: Therapeutic Activities to Promote Healthy Lifestyles for Housing 42 4.1 Physical Activity ................................................................................................... 42 4.2 Socialization .......................................................................................................... 44 4.3 Biophilia and Horticultural Therapy ..................................................................... 47 ii 4.3.1 Effects: .......................................................................................................... 49 4.3.1.1 Examples of Benefits: ........................................................................... 49 4.3.2 Design Precedents for Horticultural Therapy ............................................... 57 5 Chapter 5: Design Precedents ................................................................................ 59 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 59 5.1.1 Accessory Dwelling Unit .............................................................................. 60 5.1.2 Influence of Traditional Japanese Architecture ............................................ 61 5.1.3 Modern Modular Design ............................................................................... 65 5.2 Flexible Interior Floor Plans and Adaptable Architectural Features .................... 66 5.2.1 Raku-Inkyo Research Project ....................................................................... 67 5.2.2 All I Own House ........................................................................................... 69 5.2.3 Casa MJE ...................................................................................................... 71 5.2.4 Drawer House ............................................................................................... 72 5.3 Small and Transportable Home Precedents .......................................................... 73 5.3.1 Lot-ek MDU Shipping Container ................................................................. 73 5.3.2 Portable House .............................................................................................. 75 5.3.3 Remote House ............................................................................................... 77 Portable House by Office of Mobile Design......................................................... 79 5.3.4........................................................................................................................... 79 Metabolic Architecture ............................................................................................. 80 5.4.................................................................................................................................. 80 5.4.1 Nakagin Capsule Tower ................................................................................ 81 5.4.2 Sekisui Haim Box-Unit ................................................................................. 88 5.4.3 Micro Compact