Waiting spaces in primary care for healthy ageing: applying design guidelines to the project

Local socio-healthcare facilities for primary care are drivers for health promotion in the social community. This 3-years-research project, led in “Age-It”, deals with the study of waiting spaces, focusing on sensory environments and integrated technologies to support physical and mental wellbeing and promote healthy and active ageing in Casa della Comunità (House of the Community), which is the italian new socio-healthcare facility. The Design Guidelines are one of the main results of the research. This paper presents an example of the application of this result by using Design Guidelines to develop the architectural project and the integration of advanced technologies in the waiting spaces of Casa della Comunità Le Piagge in Florence. After an introduction about the research process, the paper describes the structure of the Design Guidelines, composed by design strategies and sheets. Then, the architectural project is presented according to the main strategies, dealing with: create easily accessible places and paths; create environments for the person's psychological comfort and support; involve, welcome and encourage sociality; promote active waiting time; promote and activate health. The original contribution is in transforming waiting into active waiting time, doing different activities which support mental and physical wellbeing, prevent chronic diseases and contribute to diffuse knowledge on healthy lifestyles.