Ageing in the Arctic

In this field project, we explored what “age-friendly” public space can mean in practice by looking at how people of retirement age (67+) use and perceive parks and squares in Tromsø's city centre, especially as places for everyday social contact and small encounters. We framed the work around two guiding questions: how these spaces are experienced and used, and what helps or hinders encounters from happening there. Because Tromsø lies above the Arctic Circle, we also treated seasonality and weather as an important background condition for public life (even though our fieldwork took place in early autumn). 

To build a picture that goes beyond “how a place looks on paper”, we combined several methods. We started with a broader scan of public spaces and then focused on four central sites, using preselective site analysis, interviews, and on-site observations with mapping to connect spatial design with lived experience. Our observation framework was informed by the WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities approach and translated into practical criteria we could assess on location (things like walkability, seating and shelter, safe access, proximity to services, and visible social participation). We also ran short street interviews with older users and conducted a semi-structured interview with professionals working on age-friendly environments, while observations were carried out systematically across weekday/weekend conditions and later visualised through heat maps to understand where people actually spend time.  

Overall, the project highlighted a simple but important point: creating age-friendly public space is not only about removing barriers, it is also about supporting comfort, confidence, and reasons to stay. The physical setting (seating, shelter, surfaces, access to toilets/cafés, and the “feel” of a place) shapes whether people want to stay, while social factors influence whether encounters can emerge naturally. Insights from professionals reinforced that spaces and “announced activities” alone do not automatically create social life. For many older residents, encounters are more likely when there are clear motivations, routines, or personal invitations that help people take the first step.