ÒEveryone AgesÓ is 2012 Vertical Cities Asia Competition theme, and it explores new urbanization patterns in rapidly aging societies in Asia. The challenge is to house 100,000 people living and working in 1 km2, almost half of which will be above age 65 by 2050. The competition asks planners and designers for a visionary paradigm to address the anticipated social, economic, and environmental challenges of a rapidly aging population. It requires research on and thoughtful integration of urban density, verticality, domesticity, work, food, infrastructure, nature, ecology, structure, and program.
The site is located in Yongsan-gu, in the SeoulÕs Metropolitan Area, in South Korea. Plans for the site will consider sustainability, quality of life, technical innovation, relationship to context, and feasibility as part of the design solutions to a rapidly aging and highly dense area. The proposals revisit concepts such as Òactive agingÓ and Òaging in placeÓ with forward-thinking, inclusive, and integrated design.