Architectural Research Methods to Investigate Older People’s Social Isolation

Recently, attention has been paid to loneliness and social isolation among older people. Solutions to both global phenomena, aggravated by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in the context of an ageing population, require multidisciplinary research at different levels. One such body of research, called ‘AIsola,’ aims at investigating social isolation among older people using expertise from research groups in architecture, social psychology, gerontology, and AI technology. The project uses as case studies four centres for older adults operated by the same service provider in the metropolitan area of the city of Tampere in Finland. Based on recent research on the use of AI solutions to detect and predict older people’s loneliness and social isolation, researchers are conducting mixed-method research including two complementary studies. The first is a technological study using AI-based wearable sensor technology to detect and predict social isolation of older adults living independently and regularly visiting the care facilities. The second is an empirical study of the spatial and social contexts of the same people. The research questions are: what are the context-related factors that affect social isolation at the scales of the city, the neighbourhood, and the building? What are the measures that potentially prevent social isolation of older adults by hybridising spatial-social and technological aspects? This paper describes the research methodology used by the architectural sub-group for the AIsola project. The methodology is a combination of: (1) observational studies of spatial settings based on physical and experiential parameters and (2) drawing-based analyses that use mapping and architectural ethnography as research tools. As a methods paper, the objective is to describe the ways in which an ongoing architectural investigation is being carried out, with the ultimate goal of defining the role of architects and research in architecture in solving the major societal challenges related to a post-COVID ageing population.