Active Living through Design

M-GENHAUS:models for sustainable multi-generational living

Active Living through Design:Integrating Physical Activity into Multi-generational

Residential Architecture

Alexis Metzger

As humans daily lives have become more and more impacted by technology, careers, and remaining primarily indoor people have started to choose an unhealthy lifestyle, by not participating in any form of physical activity. Many peoples excuses range from that they are too busy, they do not have access to any fitness centers close to their home or work, they are too tired, fitness centers are too expensive, they do not have enough time in the day or week, and countless other reasons. Yet, what if there was a way to include physical activity seamlessly within peoples daily routine?

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People are Inactive

Alexis Metzger | Introduction

Active living does just that; it incorporates physical activity into a persons daily routine by fostering environments that promote healthy choices. It encourages people to walk, bicycle, and be physically active (What is Active Living?). Active Living can be instituted within multiple types of environments, such as urban landscapes, commercial buildings, and even residential architecture. Since people are spending more time indoors, or the directly adjacent landscape, does it not make sense to design built environments where the utilitarian functions help them fulfill the recommended amount of physical activity in order to stay healthy (Zimring, 186)?

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Active Living Through DesignDefine Active Living

Physical activity is beneficial for people, whether they are children, teenagers, adults, or elders. The Committee on Physical Activity, Health, Transportation, and Land Use said in their book, Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity?, that people involved in physical activity have decreased risk of disease, which means a lower mortality rate; all-in-all physically active people are healthier (36). Regular exercise can reduce risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, colon cancer, breast cancer, ostevoarthritis and osteoporosis, and fall-related injuries. Staying physically fit can also keep people at a healthy body weight, which will help build strong bones, muscles, and joints. The above list can promote a person to a good state of physiological well-being and happiness too (Committee on Physical Activity, 37). The health benefits mentioned above are overall advantages from physical activity, yet there is one age group in specific that can greatly reap the advantage of exercise, elders.

In the process of aging the body gradually slows down and becomes weaker, yet staying physically active through a lifespan or beginning as one ages can benefit as an elder. Regular exercise in middle age, after the age of fifty, can greatly increase the musculoskeletal system and joint flexibility, cardiovascular and pulmonary system, enhance immune functioning, and exercise has also been shown to decrease negative emotions such as depression and anxiety (Tseng, 3). After the age of fifty is a point at which the benefits of taking regular moderate physical activity become important as practicing them reduces and reverses much of the physical, psychological, and social deterioration which often accompanies the advancing age (Elena, 1914). Yet, even though there are such great health advantages to exercising most people still do not participate; by the age of seventy-five only two of three men and one of two women partake in regular physical exercise, yet many of those might be of insufficient frequency and duration (Jitramontree, 1). By not participating in exercise people are more prone to diseases, obesity, poor quality of life, and a premature death; all of which are costing them more money in health care.

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Benefits of Physical Activity Physical Activity Among Elders

Alexis Metzger | Benefits

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Along with physical inactivity obesity is on the rise. Since 1960 it has skyrocketed thirty-four percent in the United States, which means that annual national health care expenses are up to $190 billion (Ungar). Obesity, along with other health risks, also carries large tolls on the economy; such as, one billion gallons of gasoline extra per year being used to transport obese people, thousands of extra dollars per overweight person being used for hospitalizations and prescriptions, and increased insurance premiums for being overweight (Ungar). For an overweight person the average annual medical expense per year is about $3,271, which is compared to a non-overweight persons medical spending per year at $512; the difference between an obese and non-obese persons spending is $2,759 (Ungar).

Health Care Costs

For elders and adults there is a multitude of ways to become physically active without having to join a gym and pay membership fees. The recommended amount of exercise for a mature adult is thirty minutes per day, five days a week (Dubbert) (Fitness) (Jitramontree, 1), yet that exercise is not limited to pumping iron at the gym. Activities include brisk walks (Jitramontree, 1), stair climbing (Andersen, Ross), bicycling (What is Active Living), or playing sports. Even walking to and from the grocery store or the bus station can be classified as exercise, as long as over the day they add up to thirty or more minutes.

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Ways to Become Physically Active


So far, active living principals have only been applied in the designs of urban landscapes and commercial buildings to help encourage employees to remain active. The book Activating Architecture and Urban Planning, outlines examples that portray attractive and active urban spaces, which promote physical activity yet with the greater goal of inviting social interaction and cultural exchange between its users (Andersen, Rasmus 1,5). A new trend has surfaced, where people want fitness environments to be convenient and accessible yet in a fun way, which is where urban spaces come into play. The spaces/places can be designed in such a manner as to provide people with what they desire, a multi-functional, activity-promoting environment that is flexible for different needs, and still make the area enjoyable (Andersen, Rasmus, 10). As an example of multi-functional place making, the Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design outlines a project that has utilized an old railway line to create a 1.5-mile-long park called High Line Park. The park encourages visitors to ascend a 30-foot-high monumental staircase,

which are a high[ly] visible slow stair that permits users to fully experience the transition from the street through the existing steel structure and up to the new landscape (52). The diversity of landscape from the harsh dense urban scene of New York City to the lush and serene environment of the High Line is enjoyable and relaxing to all visitors, it promotes a slower relaxing pace, yet does keep people walking and moving.

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Active Living Only in Urban and Commercial Contexts

Unlike urban landscapes, companies in commercial buildings are taking active lifestyles to the next level for their employees to make healthier choices. Small changes can generate a large impact on how employees carry out their daily work routine. One study completed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that sprucing up a stairwell with some new paint, new flooring, artwork, possibly motivational signage, and music can increase stair use among the buildings users (CDC). This idea can be implemented within all types of buildings to motivate people to use the stairs instead of the elevator in order to increase physical activity throughout the day. The above strategy is also known as the pull strategy, which is focused on trying to motivate users with motivational signage or aesthetic improvements.

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Pull Strategy


Another successful strategy is the push strategy, which includes interventions designed to mandate new behaviors and change attitudes toward physical activity (Nicoll, 2). Push strategies include hiding the elevator or restricting use to only those who need it, skip-stop elevators, or separating different functions of the building to encourage frequent walking between (Nicoll, S112, S121). All of these methods are to advocate and almost require physical activity of the people occupying the building, which is the opposite of the pull strategy, which offers users a choice between the inviting stairs or waiting for the elevator. By choosing the stairs over the elevator people can build strength, increase endurance, burn calories, [and] prevent muscles mass loss due to aging (Nicoll, Gayle, 4).

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Push Strategy

Half the time people spend indoors during the day is within their home, yet all the research to design actively is for a non-residential environment. There are simple ways to implement the active living principals into a residential environment without intruding upon the comforts of home. From the Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design, it is important to designate a staircase for everyday use, then making that stair adjacent to the buildings entrance and visually appealing (70,72,75). From the Active Design: Promoting Opportunities for Sport and Physical Activities through Good Design, it states to design entrances to buildings as a prominent point with well lit interior bicycle parking. Also, make all bicycle parking for residents near their doors, interior, and well lit for maximum use (61, 69). With these active living ideas implemented in a residential building it should aid people to remain physically active throughout their entire day, not just when they are outside or at the office.

The concept of walkable neighborhoods is increasingly important in physical activity research and intervention, which is why every prior active living project was designed with its neighborhood context in mind (Moudon, S99). A person/resident living on Zwyssigstrasse in Zurich, Switzerland, could access many amenities that are just a short walk or ride to the North; including a grocery store, library, shopping, bank, and another yoga studio. Yet, near Zwyssigstrasse there are also parks and a few more fitness centers, including a karate studio and a cross-fit center. The neighborhood itself is a great environment to foster residential active living because

Active Living in Residential Architecture

Active Living in the Neighborhood

Zwyssigstrasse

Neighborhood School Playground

Zwyssigstrasse Locator Map

Alexis Metzger | Active Living Solutions

of its high residential density, small block size, presence of proximate grocery stores, restaurants, and retail facilities (Moudon, S114).

Within the boundaries of the site on Zwyssigstrasse there are ways to remain active without having to travel out to the surrounding neighborhood. The majority of the built environment is along the street and North side of the property, which leaves the length of the Southwest portion open for landscape and activity development. At the elbow of the building is a fitness center; which houses a studio on the main level. The studio holds classes for yoga, Pilates, dance, Lamaze, aerobic exercise, and many others. On the second floor is a more traditional fitness center with free weights, treadmills, ellipticals, punching bags, etc. The entirety of the fitness center is open to the residents and anyone who pays membership. The fitness center, occupying the elbow of the building, opens towards to the backyard with a large protruding patio, which can be utilized as an extended yoga or dance studio. Beyond the barrier of the low wall that separates each apartments private patios and backyards from the public lawn of

the complex is a space that can be utilized by the resident children to play soccer, tag, frisbee, or any other type of game. To support the playing of soccer and other such sports there are free-standing columns impacted into the lawn at opposite ends to represent goal posts; these column are also able to be utilized in other ways, such as pull up bars, laundry lines, etc. Yet, the use is not limited to just the children and using the goal posts, the elders of the complex are welcome to set up croquet or badminton; in addition if no residents are using the space then the fitness center can hold classes on the lawn. The lawn area is a very multi-functional space, yet very simple in its design. The children of the complex are not limited to playing on the lawn; there is a creative playground that all aged children are able to make use of. This playground is made of recycled rubber tires and spans the distance between the lawn and the southern most public stair tower. The design of this playground is quite simple, they are geometric forms that protrude from the ground; children are able to roller blade, run, jump, draw, bike, skate, lay, actually do anything they can possibly think on them. Children are extremely creative and inventive, which is why these shapes are simple. Then just South of the geometric shapes stand more traditional playground equipment, such as monkey bars, swing set, and seesaw.

Active Living on Site

Backyard Lawn


Backyard Playground

Backyard Perspective

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To take it a step further than any other precedent project, there is active living within each apartment. To accomplish this all the units are very regularized. All the living functions are oriented to the backyard, southeast, which include the living room, family room, kitchen, and balconies. Then all the bedrooms are oriented to the street side, northwest. The service functions are located between the living functions and the bedrooms, along the structural grid, which include the staircase, bathrooms, plumbing stacks, and ventilation system. Yet, the element that promotes active design in these apartments is the vertical stacking of living functions. In the typical apartment style the family room and kitchen/living room is separated between two floors. On the main level is the kitchen and living room, which is traditionally a formal or public entity, and then on the floor above is the family room, a more private and family-oriented room. This separation is to encourage exercise between the two spaces, family room and kitchen, and help reinforce physical activity within the home. In the scientific journal Influences of Building Design and Site Design on Physical Activity it is mentioned that an additional two minutes of stair use per day will result in weight loose, of about 1.2 pounds per year,

BedroomsBathroomsPlumbing StacksFamily RoomsKitchens

Active Living in Unit

Northwest Elevation (Street Facade)

Section A-A (Multi-Generational Apartment)

Stacked Functions Diagram Double Height Living Room (Multi-Gen Apt)

Alexis Metzger | Active Living Solutions

which is more than the average gained by the average American (Zimring, 190). To further encourage stair use the complex offers a four-story multi-generational apartment; this unit is similar to the typical apartment in that the living functions orient to the southeast for daylighting, the bedrooms to the northwest, and stacked service function in the center. The main difference is that the first floor is a dedicated elder floor, which forces the kitchen and living room to move to the second floor and the family room on the third floor. This shifting of the living functions forces residents of the multi-generational apartment to travel up and down at least three flights of stairs daily, most defiantly accomplishing the recommended daily amount of exercise. The staircases are not the only active living function for residents; every apartment is equipped with a cabinet and an area for small workouts. Within the typical apartment this area is located in the entrance hall and in the multi-generation apartment it is located in the family room over-looking the living room. These small in-house workout areas are for people that like to participate in solo exercise routines or do not like to go to a fitness center. It is also to encourage residents to participate in any form of physical activity, whether they use free weights, yoga/Pilates, or elastic bands.

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Active Living in Typical Apartments

Active Living using Stairs

Roof Terrace (Multi-Gen Apt) Solar Studies

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CLT Terrace Detail

The proposed residential complex on Zwyssigstrasse is designed to be a progressive building; it combines all the comforts of home with the efforts of keeping residents physically active. The design of the building in terms of active living is present within each apartment, the four-story multi-generational apartment and the two-story typical apartment, through constant stair travel and designated work out areas. At the site scale there are many opportunities to participate in physical activity, especially within the fitness center. The fitness center is host to a yoga studio and an equipment room accessible to all residents. Additionally, the backyard lawn is a great tool for residents to remain active; it is equipped with imaginative soccer goals, also a creative playground for the children. Keeping healthy and physically fit is one of the complexes main goals, which is why each of the complexes features in their own personal way can keep people moving and physically fit.

For designers whom want to design a residential building that promotes active living they must first

Conclusion

Recommendations

Southeast Elevation (Backyard Facade)

Street Perspective

Alexis Metzger | Conclusion

look at how other designers are creating urban landscapes and commercial buildings. Do research; there are a lot of studies comparing elevator use and stair use and how to encourage stair usage in office buildings. Also, for residential buildings that occupy multiple floors and require an elevator contemplate skip-stop elevators, this would force people to exit a few floors before or after their designated floor and then walk up or down the stairs. People would be forced to be physically active in their daily commute between the floors to the elevator. Also, giving residents the option of a fitness center in close proximity would encourage them to become more active, instead of forcing them to use the stairs. Another option would be to offer a work out area within the apartment, as done within the

residential complex; this would really encourage residents to exercise because it is inside their individual unit. Concerning cars and parking, it would be a good idea, if able, to limit the available parking spots or completely eliminate parking all together. This would force residents to walk, bicycle, or use public transportation as much as possible. Implementing active living within a residential building is not difficult, it is much like every other active living project type, and designers should start establishing the principals as soon as possible if we are to combat obesity and inactivity.

Street Perspective Section B-B (Typical Apt.s and Parking Garage)

Street Facade (Multi-Gen. Apt.)

Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design. City of New York, 2010. 70, 72, 75. Print.

Committee on Physical Activity, Health, Transportation, and Land Use. Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity: Examining the Evidence. Washington: Transportation Research Board, 2005. 36-37. Print.

Andersen, Ross, et al. Increasing Stair Use. Annals of Intern Medicine 130.7 (1999): 616-617. Print.

Elena, Sabau, Niculescu Georgeta, Gevat Cecilia, and Lupa Elena. The Attitude of the Elderly Persons towards Health Related Physical Activites. Social and Behavioral Sciences 30 17 (2011): 1914. Science Direct. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. .

Moudon, Anne Vernez , et al. Operational definitions of walkable neighborhood: theoretical and empirical insights. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 3.Suppl 1 (2006): p. S99, S114. Print.

Nicoll, Gayle. Taking the Stairs: Environmental Features That Predict Voluntary Stair Use in 3 to 4 Story Academic Workplace Buildings [dissertation]. Atlanta, Georgia: Georgia Institute of Technology; 2006. 4. Print.

Nicoll, Gayle and Craig Zimring. The effect of innovative building design on physical activity. Journal of Public Health Policy. 30.suppl 1 (2009): p. S112, S121. Print.

Tseng, Yueh-hsia. Examining Exercise Determinants in Elders Residing in Assisted Living Facilities: An Application of the Transtheoretical Model. University of Minnesota, 2000. United States -- Minnesota: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT); ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. Web. 5 Sep. 2012. 36. Print.

Zimring, Craig, et al. Influences of building design and site design on physical activity: research and intervention opportunities.American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 28.2S2 (2005): 186, 190. Print

Fitness; Exercise for Elders: Its Never Too Late. Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week (2003): 17-. ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. Web. 5 Sep. 2012.

Jitramontree, Narirat. Exercise Promotion: Walking in Elders. Journal of Gerontological Nursing 36.11 (2010): 10-8. ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. Web. 5 Sep. 2012.

Ungar, Rick. Obesity Now Costs Americans More in Health Care Spending Than Smoking. Forbes 30 Apr. 2012: n. pag. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/04/30/obesity- now-costs-americans-morein-healthcare-costs-than-smoking/

Active Design: Promoting Opportunities for sport and physical activity through good design. Sport England. Web. 9 February 2013.

Andersen, Rasmus. Activating Architecture and Urban Planning. The Sports Confederation of 20 Denmark The Ministry of Social Affairs. Copenhagen, 2009. Web. 9 February 2013.

CDC. StairWELL to better Health, a Worksite Intervention. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002. Web. 9 February 2013.

What Is Active Living? Active Living Network. Active Living Network, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2013. .

What Is Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and How Can It Help You? Cross Lam Timber Solutions. N.p., 2012. Web. 03 Dec.2012. .

Alexis Metzger | Bibliography

Figure 1: The Oxford Health Alliance. Risk Factor: Physical Activity Oxford Health Alliance. N.p., 2013. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 2: Curley, Chris. Physical Inactivity Linked to Cancer Risk. WellBeing Wire by MeYou Health RSS. N.p., 7 Nov. 2011. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 3: American Public Health Association. National Public Health Week. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 4: Health. Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise on the Body. N.p., 2013. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 5: The Benefits of Physical Activity - Go Red for Women. Go Red For Women. N.p., 2013. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 6: Herrin, Tanish. 16 Health Benefits of Physical Activity. Examiner.com. N.p., 13 July 2011. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 7: Obesity. UK: Obesity. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 8: Londinoupolis. Obesity in the World. N.p., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 9: Fat Tax on Unhealthy Foods - Tax Fat, Soda, Calories, Sugar, Fast Foods? Fat Tax on Unhealthy Foods. John Anderson, n.d. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 10: Blogging Team. Fitness and Fun for Heart & Stroke. Mississauga Shop Talk Hub. N.p., 28 Nov. 2012. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 11: About Us. Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2013. .

Figure 12: Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design. City of New York, 2010. 52. Print.




Figure 16: Stair Prompt Signage. Stair Prompt Signage. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2013. .



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Active Living through Design