As populations worldwide continue to age, renowned architects and designers from the prestigious AD100 list are pioneering innovative approaches to senior living that seamlessly blend accessibility with sophisticated design. These creative professionals are challenging traditional notions of what constitutes appropriate housing for older adults, moving beyond institutional aesthetics to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
The demographic shift is undeniable and urgent. By 2030, people over 65 will comprise a quarter of Germany's population, with similar trends occurring globally. This aging wave will require millions of barrier-free or reduced-barrier apartments in the coming years, fundamentally changing how we design and furnish our homes. The challenge extends far beyond merely following building codes for elderly residents – it involves addressing philosophical questions about creating spaces that reflect personal biography while cushioning the inevitable uncertainties of later life.
Aging often manifests not as dramatic change, but as a quiet, sometimes unsettling estrangement from familiar surroundings. What was once a home whose rhythm was perfectly known can suddenly lose its beat when using the bathtub becomes difficult or when a beloved Beni Ourain rug transforms into a tripping hazard. This subtle erosion of the familiar foundation upon which life was built presents unique design challenges that require both practical and emotional intelligence.
Leading AD100 designers are responding with concrete solutions that prioritize both safety and style. Berlin-based duo Antonius Schimmelbusch recently renovated a house for a couple in their seventies, installing an interior elevator and creating casual chill-out spaces in the basement for overnight visits from younger family members. Lena Schimmelbusch specifically recommends that when purchasing new sofas, buyers should choose seating with a height of at least 45 centimeters – and suggests passing that low-sitting vintage Togo furniture set down to the grandchildren.
Furniture selection plays a crucial role in age-appropriate design. Chairs and armchairs should be sturdy and stable, ideally featuring seat heights of 45 centimeters or more to facilitate easier sitting and standing. In bathrooms, generous walk-in showers benefit people of all ages, while discrete grab bars can be seamlessly integrated for additional safety. Lighting modifications often require only modest, cost-effective interventions, but their impact is significant. People with declining eyesight need brighter, more differentiated lighting to prevent falls and clearly perceive details.
Legal frameworks are increasingly supporting major accessibility modifications in existing buildings. In 2024, courts in Karlsruhe addressed the right to barrier-free renovations in two separate cases, even when facing opposition from homeowner associations. The Federal Court of Justice approved a new exterior elevator in the courtyard of a protected Munich Art Nouveau building in one case, and a ground-floor terrace with ramp in a Bonn residential complex in another. These rulings strengthened the rights of older residents and people of all ages with physical limitations.
AD100 star architect Annabelle Selldorf's recent museum renovations, including New York's Frick Collection and London's National Gallery Sainsbury Wing, provide conceptual templates for accessible design. Her philosophy, as she recently told the NZZ, focuses not on creating spaces for art, but on designing spaces for the people who will view that art. This approach emphasizes clarity, thoughtfulness, quiet elegance, and timelessness without constant reminders of impermanence.
The new aesthetic of 'later life living' combines inclusivity with elegance, recognizing that accessibility benefits people of all ages. Even a fit person in their forties can find a fourth-floor walkup apartment without an elevator becomes a temporary prison after an unfortunate mountain biking accident. This universal design approach creates spaces that work for everyone, regardless of age or physical capability.
AD100 architect Patrick Batek recently experienced these challenges personally when his parents moved from Düsseldorf to Berlin to be closer to family support. "Since I'm an only child and my parents are slowly needing more assistance, they moved to Berlin a year ago. It's a brave step when you've lived in one place for decades, where so much personal history is stored in the walls," Batek explains. "We found a beautiful barrier-free apartment near KaDeWe. The apartment is quite small compared to their previous homes – 55 square meters, two rooms – but it's compact and offers everything they need."
Large-scale senior living projects are also embracing innovative design approaches. Kengo Kuma recently planned a senior residential complex surrounded by lush traditional Longjing tea gardens west of Xi Lake in Hangzhou. The slender building stretches over half a kilometer, with residential units arranged at 30-degree angles facing south to maximize sunlight exposure. Given Hangzhou's abundant rainfall, sophisticated roof solutions protect pathways to the clubhouse and associated clinic. White plastered walls, overlapping tile roofs, and shoji walls – aesthetic symbols of the local Nansong Dynasty – create a distinctly classical appearance.
Community-focused living arrangements are gaining popularity across different countries and cultures. What's called "cluster living" in Germany is known as "WG Melange" in Austria. A Caritas Wien project includes eight apartments ranging from 30 to 46 square meters, each with its own kitchen and typically a balcony, plus a communal room with cooking facilities and loggia. Four additional such life solutions for aging are planned, always integrated within normal residential complexes to achieve the ideal of old-middle-young living together under one roof.
David Chipperfield Architects designed the master plan for the nine-hectare Georg Knorr Park in Berlin-Marzahn, focusing on creating good community connections. The former commercial site will include approximately 1,600 new apartments, including 340 smaller units for apprentices, students, and seniors – a vibrant mix recognizing that aging requires a functioning, diverse neighborhood.
Hospitality projects, where functionality plus style are taken for granted, provide inspiration for age-appropriate homes and architecture for life's fourth chapter. Sebastian Thaut from AD100 studio ST offers a current example: "Our Hilden Retreat is being built south of Leipzig on the old farmyard property of my wife and business partner Silvia's grandmother. In the new simple wooden building that's emerging as a respectful addition to the historical ensemble, the ground-floor rooms for guests are planned to be barrier-reduced, threshold-free, and with wider doors. Thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows facing the picturesque garden, views of nature remain possible even for bedridden guests."
Popular culture is also celebrating the potential and vitality of older adults. Netflix recently achieved massive success with the crime comedy "Thursday Murder Club," featuring a clever quartet from the luxury senior residence Coopers Chase who solve murder cases. The main actors – Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie – are collectively 306 years old, and the underlying book became a worldwide bestseller.
The convergence of demographic necessity, legal support, and design innovation is creating unprecedented opportunities for reimagining how we age in place. As one Berlin writer recently noted about his 90-year-old mother, "The light may grow weaker," but the desire for beauty, self-determination, and community never fades. The challenge for designers and architects is creating environments that honor this enduring human need while adapting to changing physical realities.
