Author(s)

Qinxuan Zhou ¹, Yue Wang ¹, Yanpeng Ge ²

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Architecture, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
² Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), Hong Kong, China

Corresponding Author

Yanpeng Ge

ABSTRACT

With the continuous population aging in China, increasing attention has been paid to a series of aging-related social issues. These concerns extend beyond basic living security for the elderly to include the fulfillment of their psychological needs. Outdoor activity spaces in residential communities serve as the primary venues for daily social interaction among older adults. Although elderly residents frequently engage in outdoor activities, the spaces available for leisure and social interaction are relatively limited. Most older adults perceive these spaces merely as places for rest rather than as emotionally meaningful environments that foster a sense of belonging. Based on established theories such as communication and spatial theory, place theory, behavior theory, and environmental psychology of aging, this study combines field investigations and observations conducted in the residential community of Tsinghua University in Beijing. Through methods including on-site surveys, behavioral observations, and interviews, the research explores the spatial preferences and patterns of aggregation associated with different types of interaction behaviors among older adults. It further summarizes the relationship between elderly social interaction activities in community public spaces and the spatial elements and characteristics of their settings. Ultimately, this study seeks to propose optimization strategies for outdoor activity spaces in residential communities that can better meet the psychological needs of elderly social interaction, thereby helping to construct socially engaging environments with a strong sense of belonging and fostering a positive neighborhood atmosphere.

KEYWORDS

Older Adults, Interaction Behaviors, Residential Communities, Sense of Belonging, Place

CITE THIS PAPER

Qinxuan Zhou, Yue Wang, Yanpeng Ge. Research on Optimization Strategies for Outdoor Activity Spaces in Old Residential Communities Based on the Interaction Behaviors of the Elderly—A Case Study of the Residential Community at Tsinghua University. Journal of Civil Engineering and Urban Planning (2026). Vol. 8, No.1, 128-142. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jceup.2026.080113.

REFERENCES

[1] Cui, Y. Y. (2021). Research on public space optimization strategy of old community in Qingdao based on PSPL: Taking Shuiqinggou No. 2 Community as an example (Master's thesis, Qingdao University of Technology). 
[2] Norberg-Schulz, C. (2010). Genius loci: Towards a phenomenology of architecture. Huazhong University of Science and Technology Press.
[3] Tuan, Y.-F. (2019). Topophilia: A study of environmental perception, attitudes, and values. The Commercial Press.
[4] Sun, J. X. (2019). Research on spatial design of urban aged apartments based on communication behavior (Master's thesis, Harbin Institute of Technology).
[5] Chen, L., & Huang, Y. H. (2023). An empirical analysis of bias in discrete choice model parameter estimation caused by willingness survey design. Heilongjiang Communications Science and Technology, 46(12), 157–161. 
[6] Chen, M. Y., & Bian, L. C. (2024). Study on the influence of "double aging" neighborhoods on the active living behaviors of the elderly. Journal of Human Settlements in West China, 39(1), 61–67. 
[7] Li, L. L., & Zhang, Y. Q. (2020). Analysis of the residential environment of elderly people in cold-region cities from the perspective of environmental psychology. Anhui Architecture, 27(2), 17–19. 
[8] Dai, Y., Wen, C., Wu, H., et al. (2021). Indoor 3D human trajectory reconstruction using surveillance camera videos and point clouds. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 32(4), 2482–2495.
[9] Chen, X. X., Jiang, Z. L., & Cao, Y. W. (2023). Research on the influence mechanism of environmental elements and outdoor activities in settlements. Design Community, (4), 148–152.

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Journal of Sustainable Development and Green Buildings
  
  
• Landscape and Urban Horticulture
  
  
• Bridge and Structural Engineering
  
  
• Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
  
  
• Journal of Municipal Engineering
  
  
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
  
  
• Indoor Air Quality and Climate
  
  
• Computer Aided Architecture Design