Age-Friendly Design of Public Spaces in Aging Residential Communities from a Micro-Renewal Perspective

In the context of an aging society, public spaces in aging residential communities often suffer from inadequate age-friendly features, while large-scale renovations face practical constraints. This study aims to explore how micro-renewal strategies—characterized by low-cost and incremental interventions—can optimize community public spaces to better meet the physical and psychological needs of elderly residents. Grounded in the concept of micro-renewal, the research first investigates current conditions and identifies key issues in typical aging communities. It then proposes age-friendly design strategies from three spatial dimensions: pedestrian circulation, landscape environments, and interactive spaces, based on seniors’ behavioral patterns, physical limitations, and social interaction needs. The study develops a micro-renewal framework for aging community public spaces, emphasizing quality improvement through refined design rather than large-scale reconstruction. The proposed framework offers a practical implementation reference for age-friendly renovations in constrained settings and contributes to the broader discourse on urban micro-regeneration.