Studio 9


Design for Ageing
Towards an Age-friendly Community in the City of Moreland

Hing-wah Chau

Studio Description

According to the latest statistics, one in six people in Australia is now aged over 65 and the figures will increase significantly to one in four by 2050. In view of the growing ageing population, it is crucial to provide age-friendly living environment to cater for the needs of older people. The World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide in 2007. In 2016, the Age-friendly Victoria Declaration was signed by the Victorian Government and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) in Australia showing their commitment to provide age-friendly living environment.

In collaboration with the Moreland City Council, this design studio addresses the following research questions:

  1. How age-friendly is the City of Moreland?
  2. What would make the City of Moreland more age-friendly?

Studio Outcomes

Through the engagement with different stakeholders, including urban designer and social support manager of the Moreland City Council, practising architects and academics, students are required to assess the age-friendliness of the current situation, explore the potential of the site, carry out site analysis, prepare group master plans, examine building typologies and undertake sustainability studies, leading to their individual schematic design and final presentations.

Research Themes:
age-friendly community, building typologies for seniors living, multi-generational living environment, social and environmental sustainability, health and wellbeing

Studio Leader

Dr. Hing-wah Chau is the Melbourne Early Career Academic Fellow in Architectural Design and the Senior Tutor of Masters Design Studios at the University of Melbourne. He has been teaching architectural design at the University of Melbourne since 2011 and has more than ten years of professional practice in Hong Kong as a registered architect, working in an interdisciplinary working environment and involving in different types of projects, ranging from small public structures, public housing to large infrastructural development.

ST1/09 Monday 6:15-9:15PM, MSD Room 138
ST2/09 Thursday 9AM-12, MSD Room 138

Contact Handbook Key Dates

Need enrolment assistance?

Stop 1 provides enrolment and other support to Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Environments and Melbourne School of Design students.