Dr Zinan Chen co-designing with older residents using AR tools.<\/p>\n
Newswise \u2014 As the need for age-friendly design in urban communities becomes ever more critical, an award winning University of South Australia research project is reshaping the design of urban green spaces, ensuring parks are more inclusive and welcoming for older residents.<\/p>\n
Led by Dr Zinan Chen, Transforming to an Age-Friendly World\u00a0used Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Citizen Science to explore how co-design can lead to stronger communities and smarter design outcomes.<\/p>\n
The UniSA PhD project was conducted in partnership with the City of Unley and Tract Consultants and was supported by South Australia\u2019s Office for Ageing Well. It recently received three honours from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA): the National Landscape Architecture Award, the People\u2019s Choice Award, and the SA Award for Research, Policy and Communications.<\/p>\n
Dr Chen\u2019s research shows that when older adults are treated as co-creators rather than \u201cconsulted\u201d participants, design priorities change.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir ideas led to new design priorities, like seats with good back support and views, sensory planting for relaxation, better shade with wind protection, and intergenerational spaces where children and older adults can interact,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing tools like VR and Citizen Science, participants were able to see their ideas come to life and make informed design decisions. Many said it was the first time they truly felt heard in a planning process. The result is more than physical upgrades, it\u2019s a new way of engaging citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study involved Adelaide-based older residents auditing 51 local parks and taking part in co-design workshops that used 2D drawings, VR and AR technologies to reimagine a local park. It employed inclusive and respectful methods and tools to develop tangible, evidence-based solutions that go beyond the common conventional practices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr Chen\u2019s inspiration for the project dates back nearly a decade to her hometown in Guangzhou, China.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw an older man in Guangzhou use an umbrella to push himself up from a public bench,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was such a simple act, yet it revealed something profound: a design system that forgets its most vulnerable users. That image never left me.\u201d<\/p>\n
After moving to Adelaide, she realised these barriers were not unique, even to a city first planned in 1837 as the world\u2019s first public park system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile parklands remain an iconic part of the city, most were designed long before today\u2019s ageing population,\u201d Dr Chen says.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Australia has one of the fastest-ageing populations in the country, yet many parks are still not designed for older people\u2019s comfort, safety or independence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her research found that even when older residents live within walking distance of parks, they often don\u2019t use them.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany told me they struggled with uncomfortable seating, limited shade and a lack of activities that felt meaningful,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne older participant said that as a single man, he felt unwelcome in the park without a dog or a grandchild. People seemed to wonder why he was there. That comment stayed with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s ageing population is growing rapidly, and Australia is no exception where, within the next 20 years, one in four Australians will be aged 65 or over.<\/p>\n
\u201cUpdating Adelaide\u2019s historic parklands for inclusivity is essential, not just for older residents, but for creating parks that care for everyone,\u201d Dr Chen says.<\/p>\n
The project has contributed to growing interest from government and industry in applying this community-based design model across aged care, hospitals, schools and mental health facilities.<\/p>\n
Dr Chen\u2019s next steps build on this momentum. Her co-design toolkits and age-friendly design guidelines are now being finalised for journal publication and shared with councils and design professionals. In 2025\u201326, she will present the model to the Local Government Association of South Australia to support broader adoption.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we listen closely and design with empathy, we create not only better parks but stronger communities,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy applying these evidence-based engagement tools, we can help councils and communities design parks and public spaces that truly reflect people\u2019s lived experiences. That\u2019s what age-friendly design is really about, landscapes that care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Chen says winning the AILA awards has been deeply humbling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe awards are less about personal achievement and more a collective victory – and a reminder that when design begins with care, its impact can be profound,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Find out more about the project and award here<\/a>. Watch a short documentary on the project below, with more video footage available upon request.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n Media contacts:<\/p>\n Contact for Interview: Dr Zinan Chen, Project Lead, UniSA. M: +61 452 299 717. E: zinan.chen@mymail.unisa.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n