INTERACTIVE SPATIAL EVALUATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT: CROSS COMPARISON OF SELECTED OLD AGE HOMES FOR SUSTAINABLE USAGE.

Abstract

With rise in population of the urban centers through urbanization across Pakistan and negative impacts of socio-economic decline & financial crisis across the nation, there has been a rise in the need and availability of old age homes in the major cities of Pakistan. This trend has jolted the existing family based cultural system previously followed and has laid the foundation to a new challenge where de-nuclear family setup raises challenges for keeping the old people at home. Hence old age homes to facilitate this rising population has emerged. Yet to manage their mental, physical, social, psychological and to some extent medical needs, these facilities needs to be evaluated. Interactivity provision in such spaces makes these more functional, livable and viable for old age people. Hence a cross comparison of two selected old age homes was done in Karachi with focus on social, environmental and physical parameters related to interactivity. Hybrid research mode was used. Based on the comparison, it was concluded that these facilities were not mainly designed for the stated functional purposes and they require a complete remodel approach for future and existing facilities through design interventions.