On June 7, the AIANY Design for Aging committee was pleased to host Esteban Beita, PhD, Associate Professor at CUNY City Tech, Founder of Wabi Design, Tai-Li Lee, Assistant Professor at Pratt University, Partner of New Practice Studio, and Melissa Q. Navarra, PhD, Assistant Professor at Ateneo de Manila University (speaking remotely) on an informative and interesting discussion focused on urban aging in several east Asian cities, moderated by Ruth Finkelstein, ScD, Executive Director of Brookdale Center for Aging at Hunter College and Professor at School of Urban Public Health. This event was offered in person and virtually, marking the first in-person panel of the Committee since pandemic.

Often in the American imagination, Asian societies are better places to grow old. This event investigated that premise with panelists who specialize in issues of the elderly in three major Asian cities: Manila, Taipei, and Tokyo. Building on basic demographics, the panelists looked at the evolving living patterns of the elderly in large urban centers and how infrastructure and architecture can facilitate seniors’ independence and well-being. And the presentations opened up many more avenues of pursuit for better understanding how other urban areas address aging relative to housing, socialization, poverty, infrastructure, demographics, isolation, etc. In case you missed it, you can view a complete replay here.