Duplication and Innovation: Study of the Design of Chinese Senior Residential Communities

The development of Chinese senior residential communities is just in the fledging period. Hence, the planning, design and other related experience is very limited. Some newly built senior residential communities, were duplications of successful projects in developed countries, with some minor changes. These new endeavours were lacking in enough comprehensive considerations regarding local cultural and social backgrounds during the fast construction requirements. Through the utilization of documentary research and case studies, this paper examined and compared the international and domestic cases, in order to decipher the exiting problems and challenges regarding these newly built senior accommodations. Coming from the perspectives of planning and architectural design, this paper proposes some improvements regarding satisfying the seniors physical and psychological requirements based on Chinese culture and the social backgrounds and practical requirements of the seniors.