Ageing population and inclusive built environment design

Following the data collection concerning a case study, through questionnaires and some interviews and surveys in residential buildings, this paper reflects upon the approach to the design/renovation of the built environment able to provide adequate responses to the ageing population, thus resulting inclusive. The principles of universal design are examined according to the fundamental objective of obtaining a built environment that adapts to its users and their needs rather than vice versa. The paper consists of three sections, beyond the introduction and the conclusions, which deal respectively with: the needs expressed by the elderly, according to the data collected for the case study; the challenge of universal design for the actors of the building process; the approach to the design/renovation of the inclusive built environment.