How can community adapt to population ageing through redevelopment?
如何改造社区环境以适应老龄化趋势？

China’s population is ageing rapidly. Many communities, therefore, are facing the challenge of adapting themselves to this demographic trend. This case is derived from Toyoshiki Community in the city of Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It presents an exemplar of sustainable community redevelopment in the context of population ageing.
随着人口老龄化的状况日益严峻，如何对既有小区进行改造以适应老龄化这一趋势是中国的各个社区必须面对的重要话题。日本丰四季台社区具有远高于全国平均水平的老龄化率，具有强烈的可持续改造需求，从而率先开展了居住环境的可持续改造，成为了日本老旧社区改造推广样板。

The ageing rate of Toyoshiki Community is much higher than Japan’s national average. To address its pressing issue of population ageing, the community has redeveloped itself with three methods. The first pertains to community facility provision. On the one hand, it has provided senior living residences and introduced elderly care organizations, thus making it more convenient for seniors to live in the community. On the other hand, it has attracted young families to move in not only by developing modern high-rise buildings with units meeting their needs, but also by expanding childcare facilities. The second method relates to space reconfiguration to meet the needs of elderly residents. For example, parking lots have been relocated mainly on the outskirts of the community. In so doing, central areas of the community are for pedestrians only, thus ensuring a quiet and safe environment particularly for seniors. The third method pertains to man-made environment. A park and a trail have been built in the community. They have not just attracted many elderly residents to enjoy outdoor activities, but also provided public space for all residents to enjoy social interactions with one another.
该社区环境改造主要从以下四个方面进行。第一，完善社区设施。通过建设老年人专用住宅、引进养老机构等，提高既有老人的生活便利程度；同时在腾出的用地上开发充满时代感的高层住宅，提供适合年轻家庭入住的经济户型，并扩充幼儿园等育儿设施，积极吸引年轻家庭的入住。第二，社区适老化改造。采用人车分离的手法重新规划社区道路，把停车场主要配建在住宅区的外沿区域，留出中央区域作为步行者专用区域，确保住区中心区域的安静与安全。第三，设计多元化的景观。在改造时贯彻时代与流行的理念，标识系统采用了新颖多彩的设计元素，体现建设活力社区的愿景。

Three lessons about communities’ adaptation to population ageing through redevelopment can be learned from this case. First, effective redevelopment requires collaborations among multiple players. In this case, residents have contributed their ideas about their community’s redevelopment. Kashiwa municipal government has provided policy support. The developer has implemented the redevelopment plan. Tokyo University has supported the redevelopment process with theoretical insights and empirical evidence. Second, achieving the goal of “aging in place” lies in redeveloping the community into one that is accessible to seniors both physically and mentally. For one thing, the redeveloped community needs to provide accessible facilities so that its elderly residents can receive medical services and care inside the place of their residence. For another, the redeveloped community needs to become a space in which its senior residents can enjoy mental wellness. Third, demographic structure can be rebalanced through community redevelopment. In this case, the redeveloped Toyoshiki Community has done more than meeting the needs of the older generation. It has also become a community in which the younger generation has moved in and enjoyed their life.
丰四季台社区的经验可以给我们提供以下几方面的启发。第一，采取“民产官学”的全方位运作体系。根据广大居民的意见，由政府牵头，由学术机构开发、研究、分析和制定工作计划。在内容确定前充分了解和协调了各方意见和要求，因此制定的计划将具有高度前瞻性，在实施中可以推进顺利，避免相关方之间的利益冲突。第二，实现“就地养老”核心在于建立“身心无障碍”社区环境。要实现“就地养老”的老龄化社区规划经营模式，不但需要解决医疗、养老服务条件，为老年人构建物理性的无障碍环境，还需要为老年人建立“老有所为，老有所乐”的精神上的无障碍环境。第三，通过社区更新可以实现人口结构调整。老龄化社区重构的规划意义不仅仅在于建设一个具备适老性硬件的社区，还需要同步考虑建立适老化服务的体系。更进一层意义上，需要积极诱导年轻一代的入住，将社区返老还童，实现人口结构的再平衡。