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New European Bauhaus
News article28 March 2021

A European certification scheme for homes fit for ageing in place

We are interested in housing solutions that are inclusive and make everyone feel at home.

homes4life
homes4life
homes4life

Imagine a society where houses are within reach for all Europeans, regardless of age, income, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or health status & where your house is truly your home. A supportive, enabling environment that helps you realize your full personal and social potential.

Régis Decorme, shared this through our website as the vision of "Homes4Life" for 2040.

He explained it's an EU Certification Scheme for ageing in place.

Our living environments have a tremendous impact on our health and wellbeing. Ensuring they are suitable & adapted to our needs & preferences – including when those evolve over time – is a challenging yet effective response to Europe's ageing demographics.

However, an important share of the EU's building stock is not adapted to allow older persons to age in place. Even today's new constructions are often not equipped to support our health & wellbeing throughout our whole life. Actually, 1 in 8 Europeans over 65 say that their house is not comfortably warm during winter. Demand for age-friendly homes exceeds supply by far. An EU study estimates to 10M the demand for age-friendly homes in the coming years across the continent.

The certification scheme looks at requirements in a holistic way. It aims to help develop better living environments integrating construction & digital solutions where beneficial.

Within the scheme, different socio-economic conditions (housing ownership, family structure, health system, etc.) and building typologies across the EU are analysed to provide the necessary flexibility & address each country's specificities. The certification is for both new & existing buildings.

The project is run by a multidisciplinary group of 9 partners from 5 ?? countries. It has already been tested in 11 pilot buildings across Europe:

  • France (Nice, Dijon, Busy)
  • Spain (Meruelo, Bilbao)
  • Poland (Warsaw, Lodz)
  • Italy (Treviso)
  • Ireland (Dublin)
  • The Netherlands (Weesp)

Can we make the places where we live more beautiful, sustainable & inclusive? Go to "Co-design" in our main menu and tell us how!

? Pilots / © homes4life.eu

Details

Publication date
28 March 2021