Axelborg

Country: Denmark

City: Horsens

District: Axelborg

The Danish non-profit housing association Albo launched in 2022 an ‘ideas competition’ to develop the residential area of Axelborg according to the ‘Neighbourhoods of the Future’ model, which adopts a multi-generational approach, considering diverse demographic factors such as longer lifespans, fewer births, an ageing population, smaller households, and more people moving to the city.

The vision is that the ‘Neighbourhoods of the Future’ are characterised by intergenerational communities and housing. The ‘Neighbourhoods for Generations’ concept recognises the role of different people, in different phases of their lives, providing the space and occasions for meaningful interaction and mutual support as a natural part of daily life.

To exemplify what it means to create an intergenerational neighbourhood, four important planning components were highlighted in the competition:

• The Physical Environment should meet the spatial needs for all ages including public spaces, shared facilities, housing typologies, streets, and infrastructure to create inviting places that can be the stage for everyday activities.
• Different kinds of Social Infrastructure from local networks, community organisations, workspaces to cultural functions hold the potential to foster social interaction and meetings across generations.