Kalelagun design guide.: Model for transforming outdoor public spaces to mitigate loneliness and increase the independence of older people

Abstract

The Design Guide for public spaces to prevent and alleviate unwanted loneliness is the result of the KALELAGUN («street friend» in Basque) research project, carried out by the Quality of Life in Architecture Research Group (CAVIAR) at the Department of Architecture at Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU. The project was promoted and funded by ADINBERRI Foundation and Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, as part of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council —HARIAK (threads in Basque) strategy to address loneliness. This work therefore addresses activities related to structuring or transforming the physical spaces people inhabit, traverse, and use (housing and urban planning), categorised as primary or universal prevention strategies for social inclusion. The KALELAGUN project has been recognised as a best practice in the KORALE research project —Towards a Community of Practice and Knowledge on Preventing and Tackling Loneliness through Public Policies (Interreg Europe, co-funded by the European Union). The first KALELAGUN plaza is set to be built in 2025, establishing a benchmark for transforming plazas and streets in our cities to help prevent and alleviate unwanted loneliness.