Living Seniors Living Rural: Mobile Architecture as a Means to Facilitate a New Rural Ageing Typology

Abstract

With the realization of population trends and the impact the aging population will have on our society, an architectural focus is developing. One that examines the roles seniors play in our built environments. This focus however is primarily oriented to the urban senior, a person very unique and very different from their rural counterpart. My intent is to reach outside the urban study and better understand the position of the aging senior in a rural context, and how architecture plays a role in their development. The transitions between various life stages are sometimes abrupt, and those forced upon individuals by the aging process may be met with difficulty and surprise. Frequently these changes are impeded by things such as inflexible architecture or poorly planned exterior spaces. Within this thesis the architecture will attempt to counteract the involuntary living in motion that occurs with seniors in rural communities, forced to leave their homes, communities and social networks, by introducing an architecture that is in motion. The built environment will be moving to the seniors or communities where it may be supported.