Angela Barrios-Padura

Psychosocial indicators of habitability conditions and satisfaction with life among older people / Indicadores psicosociales de las condiciones de habitabilidad y satisfacción vital en personas mayores

Abstract Habitability is a good indicator, from a psychological perspective, of the quality of life enjoyed by older people living in urban environments. Quality of life depends, among other factors, on living conditions together with activities of daily living. Such activities indicate an older person’s degree of dependence and, therefore, the extent to which their home needs to be adapted and made suitable for them. The aim of this study is to analyse quality of life and satisfaction with life among older people in urban environments. The results indicate that the habitability conditions of homes are a predictive factor for satisfaction with life among older people, which is, in turn, linked to their level of autonomy. It would be interesting for future research to design and develop a protocol of social and psychological indicators of habitability capable of optimizing quality of life for older people living in urban environments.

Re)Programa. Architectural Rehabilitation Incorporating Sustainability Criteria in an Andalusia Neighborhood

Between the years 2013–2015, members of the research group TEP 954 InFact, worked on a I + D contract awarded by the Department of Public Works of the Government of Andalusia, studying the needs for intervention in the Andalusian buildings from the 40s with the aim of ensuring “active ageing” and “at home”. The research proposes a new urban model which ensures that people can stay in their neighborhoods until the end of their days, from projects focused on standards comfort requirements, energy saving and environmental sustainability to management under socioeconomic criteria. A diagnosis of the building state of conservation and a testing of the degree of fulfillment the architectural requirements were performed according to Law 8/2013 guidelines. Regarding the urban livability, the weaknesses identified in the Building Evaluation Report (IEE) and the need to prioritize adjusted performances to socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods, promoted a critical review and the development of new diagnosis tools. These tools will allow make decisions that ensure the accessibility and the use of friendly spaces with elderly promoting active ageing. Among the conclusions, the clear deficiencies in the thermal behavior of the envelope, but above all accessibility of buildings, have highlighted the need for urgent intervention. In this article the results obtained in relation to the supervision of the basic safety requirements of use and accessibility, from new Inspection Sheets considered as a tool for development and improvement is exposed.

The Empathic City. Towards a New Model of Urban Sociability

The city is a physical and social construction made by man, which affects the daily life of citizens and therefore has become the main focus of social and human relations, able to respond to their needs and ensure a better life quality. That is why it is necessary to analyze and study the habitability and quality of life in urban contexts as a paradigm and reference for the development of social and collective life through the public space and the urban fabric. The research seeks to create a methodology for the qualitative analysis of the public space through the research-action that will develop the DEU tool (Diagnosis of Urban Empathy Urban).

Structural Refurbishment Projects. The Sustainability of Reinforcements Using Composite Materials

Repair works of reinforced concrete structures are complex, expensive, and with a strong impact on the environment . Repair solutions with composite materials , FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer), are the most efficient, if we consider mechanical characteristics and lightness. To assess its sustainability it is necessary to analyze this type of structural rehabilitation operations from environmental and economic criteria, but mainly social, considering people living in buildings and using infrastructure, as well as workers. Through a documentary work in three Andalusian companies: Vorsevi, Labrum and Azul Construccion, about different investigations, studies and works of carbon fiber reinforcements CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer), an analysis of the circumstances and the complexity of works, environmental impacts and over citizen, and issues related to quality control to ensure proper operation, durability, and long-term impacts amortization, was developed. It is included a comparative analysis between CFRP reinforcements and other most commonly reinforcements used in construction .