Heart of the future home: a multidimensional model of inclusive kitchen for older people in the UK

Abstract

With the development of smart technology and aging societies, the living and housing environments for older people are undergoing transformation. Designers must understand the changing capabilities, lifestyles, preferences, and inspirations of older people for their future homes, in which the kitchen is seen as the heart. To gain a deeper understanding of the requirements of older people in promoting healthier lifestyles and inclusive daily practices, the authors identified five key factors of kitchen design through a literature review, developing an initial model. Subsequently, a focus group was conducted in the UK to explore the perspectives and expectations of older people, where metaphors for future kitchens were collected, and further insights were used to refine the model. The refined model for a future-inclusive kitchen encompasses six dimensions: Environment/space, Technology/interaction, Emotion/affect, Health and safety, Human factors and well-being, and Sustainability. Through using metaphors, this study offers a multidimensional lens to investigate the future user experience of inclusive kitchens. The significance of this study lies in the originality of combining a literature review, and user study with design metaphors. A future-proof inclusive kitchen design model is proposed to provide guidance for future design directions of age-friendly environments.