Explain the Effect of Components of Open Spaces in Forming Different levels of meaning for the Elderly (Case study: Ekbatan Complex)

The open spaces of residential complexes play an underlying role in formation of meaning in the relationship between the residents. Making these spaces suitable based on the needs and functional patterns of the user groups to facilitate the presence of all age and gender groups is one of the main concerns of architects. This study, which aims to examine the role of open spaces of residential complexes in welcoming the presence of the elderly group, addresses the influence of physical-activity components in forming meaning for the elderly. The type of research in this study is qualitative and the research strategy is combined (interpretive-analytical and correlation), data collection tools include observation, semi-organized interviewing as well as questionnaire (closed and open).The conclusion of the research reveals that physical and activity components in open spaces influence the meaningfulness of these spaces for the presence of the elderly age group and the physical characteristics of these spaces have the greatest impact on the formation of different levels of meaning for the elderly.Among the physical components, environmental comfort and safety-security has the greatest and the component of climate had the least impact on the presence of the elderly in the open spaces of residential complexes and among the component of activity and functional mixing have the greatest impact on the formation of different levels of meaning for the elderly. Also, among the components relating to meaning, the readability and familiarity has the most and least effect on forming space meaningfulness for the elderly respectively.