City of the aged versus City of all ages

Abstract

In this article I deconstruct the polar cultural myths about ageing and how these two influencing memes generate two contrasting scenarios for the future of the city. One meme can be seen as a weight resisting the preferred future whilst the other provides the attractive pull towards the preferred image. Both are interlinked by the reality of an ageing global population – a demographic driver that is shaping the city of tomorrow. This preferred image however is not inevitable; I argue that memetic change of Western society’s episteme of ageing is fundamental to achieving the City of all ages.

Citation

Daffara, P. (2003), "City of the aged versus City of all ages", Foresight, Vol. 5 No. 6, pp. 43-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636680310508982