This paper introduces a pioneering framework for intergenerational (IG) play space design, developed in Hong Kong—one of the world’s most densely populated vertical cities. The project addresses urgent challenges of "Double Ageing", i.e., ageing housing stock and a rapidly ageing population. The JC IG Play Space initiative demonstrates a clear path forward for advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by demonstrating how existing urban land resources can be strategically optimised through user-centric design to promote healthy ageing and foster sustainable communities.
Guided by translational research in health design, this approach creates inclusive, IG environments that support physical activity, social interaction, and mental well-being. Developed through robust community engagement and co-designed with 423 residents, the interventions are deeply grounded in lived experiences and everyday needs. By integrating IG play opportunities along daily routes of residents in high-density housing estates, the design activates underused spaces, encourages active lifestyles, fosters intergenerational bonds, and builds social cohesion—key to preventing social isolation and addressing urban inequalities.
The framework rests on five core principles - age integration, agency and inclusiveness, enabling settings, experience-led engagement, and software-led hardware – operationalised through the guiding questions: “Can we go? Can we stay? Can we play?”. This approach informs spatial planning, management, and programming, resulting in a practical and replicable set of strategies. Innovations include adaptive reuse of underutilised areas, layered walking and play circuits, graded physical challenges, and IoT-enabled systems for sustained engagement.
Developed in Hong Kong’s context of extreme density and verticality, this model sets a new benchmark for cities seeking to maximise limited land resources and tackle public health and sustainability challenges. It provides a clear, actionable blueprint for embedding health-promoting environments into everyday life—defining a way forward for building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities focused on well-being.