Active ageing and public space. A sustainable model to make cities more age-friendly

In March 2020 the world health organization declared covid-19 as a global pandemic. As a result, many states have adopted social measures to prevent the transmission of the virus (quarantine and self-isolation, closure of schools and businesses, social distancing, etc.). In the short term, this resulted in a reduction in the transmission of the virus but also a negative impact on human society (on lifestyle, social relationships, psycho-physical well-being). In the long term, this social restriction can lead to change in how people can be active and a new global health pandemic: physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles. The fact the government’s rules include daily exercise outside shows how important they believe it is for people. Because physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle have consequences on the increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity (for the whole population) and pathological ageing or with disabilities (for the elderly population which constitutes a large part of the total population), it is important to start thinking about the roles and duties of public spaces and how we can change them for the next phase of the pandemic and a more sustainable future. It is therefore a matter of placing the user at the centre in terms of its variability, whose interaction with the built environment is physical, cognitive-sensory and social.