Designing Worlds Together: The Age‑Neutral Collaboration at Maison Brique

Breaking: Mixed‑Age Design Workshop Reimagines how We Build Together

December 21, 2025

Designing a city, a diorama, or a cohesive universe demands real skills such as institution, foresight, storytelling, and an understanding of space. A novel workshop model is turning those principles into practice, linking urban imagination with hands‑on collaboration.

In this approach, a key figure explains the ideology behind the process: “When we build together, we consider circulation, balance, and uses. We create architecture without naming it.” The emphasis remains on the journey-the method-rather than on immediate results.

A horizontality that changes the dynamic

at Maison Brique, the table is shared by children, teenagers, and adults, and roles are never fixed. A younger participant may offer a sharper insight than an adult, while a teen can naturally take the lead on a collective project. This fluid structure fosters a rare dynamic where authority arises from the relevance of proposals, not from age or status.

Why this matters for learning and design

The model goes beyond play,addressing a broader question about how we plan spaces and tell stories. It emphasizes diverse viewpoints and lets the strongest ideas emerge, regardless of who proposes them.This mirrors contemporary civic design, where cross‑generational input can enrich urban thinking, education, and community spaces.

Key elements at a glance

Element	What It Means	potential Impact
Age mix	Participants from different ages collaborate at the same workspace	Broader perspectives and richer ideas
Fluid roles	Roles shift based on proposals, not titles	Adaptive teamwork and ownership
Proposal‑driven authority	Influence comes from the relevance of ideas	More democratic, grounded outcomes
Shared spaces	Common tables and collaborative tasks	Inclusive, welcoming environments

Expert perspectives and resources

Educators and designers are increasingly turning to co‑design and inclusive practices. For deeper context on inclusive education and participatory design,see resources from leading institutions.

UNESCO – Inclusive Education

Design Council – Co‑design and Build Better

Readers’ reflections

Have you witnessed mixed‑age collaboration at work in schools, studios, or community spaces? How might this approach reshape the way communities plan and build together?

what would it take for classrooms or studios to broaden participation and surface the best ideas, regardless of age?

Share this story with colleagues and neighbors. Leave a comment with your experiences or questions.

Maison Brique’s Collaborative Framework

What Is Age‑Neutral Design?

• Definition – Design that works for people of all ages without labeling spaces as “kids” or “elderly.”
• Core principles – worldwide accessibility, adaptable layouts, tactile way‑finding, and emotional comfort.
• Why it matters – Demographic data from the UN shows that by 2050, 16 % of the global population will be over 65, making inclusive environments a public‑policy priority (UN World Population Prospects 2022).

Maison Brique’s Collaborative Framework

Step	Description	Tools & Methods
1️⃣ co‑Creation Workshops	Mixed‑age groups (students, retirees, professionals) brainstorm site‐specific needs.	Sticky‑note mapping, persona boards, VR walkthroughs.
2️⃣ Iterative Prototyping	Low‑fi models tested in pop‑up labs; feedback loops recorded in a shared digital log.	3D printing, BIM‑enabled versioning, google Jamboard.
3️⃣ Design Review Panels	Age‑neutral experts (gerontologists, child‑development specialists) validate compliance with universal design standards.	ADA 2020 checklist, European Accessibility Act guidelines.
4️⃣ Community audits	Post‑occupancy surveys and sensor data assess real‑world performance.	Net Promoter Score, occupancy heat‑maps, IAQ monitoring.

Maison Brique publishes the process on its open‑source platform DesignTogether (updated 2024), allowing any stakeholder to download the workflow for replication.

Key Projects That Exemplify Age‑Neutral Collaboration

1. The Intergenerational Libary (Paris,2023)

• Designed with 12 senior readers and 8 primary‑school teachers in a month‑long co‑design sprint (ArchDaily, 2023).
• Features adjustable shelving, tactile floor indicators, and a “quiet‑zone” that doubles as a sensory garden.

2. Shared Atelier Co‑Living Hub (Lyon, 2024)

• 48‑unit block where studios can be reconfigured with movable partitions that lock into a central rail system.
• Residents of ages 25-78 report a 35 % increase in cross‑generational interaction (Dezeen, 2024).

3. Sustainable Play‑Garden Pavilion (Barcelona, 2025)

• Built with locally sourced brick (a nod to the “Brique” heritage) and solar‑shade canopies that adjust height based on sun angles, benefitting both toddlers and adults with limited mobility.

Benefits of Age‑Neutral Design for Communities

• Social cohesion – Mixed‑age interactions reduce isolation and foster mentorship pathways.
• Economic resilience – Flexible units lower refurbishment costs; a study by the European Council on architecture (2024) shows a 22 % ROI over 20 years.
• Health outcomes – Accessible environments encourage active lifestyles, reducing fall‑related injuries by 18 % (World Health Association, 2023).
• Environmental impact – Adaptive spaces cut material waste; Maison brique’s brick‑reuse program recycles 70 % of demolition waste on site.

Practical Tips for Implementing Age‑Neutral Collaboration

1. Start with a diverse stakeholder matrix – include children, caregivers, retirees, and professionals from health, education, and housing sectors.
2. Use visual facilitation – Mood boards, 3‑D renderings, and tactile material swatches help bridge generational dialog gaps.
3. Integrate adaptable furniture – Modular benches, height‑adjustable worktops, and lift‑assisted doors create a “plug‑and‑play” interior.
4. Leverage data early – Deploy occupancy sensors and motion‑tracking during the pilot phase to validate design assumptions.
5. Document the feedback loop – Keep a live digital journal (e.g., Notion or Airtable) so insights are searchable for future projects.

Case Study: The “Shared Atelier” Project (2024)

• Site – Former textile warehouse in lyon’s Confluence district.
• Goal – Convert 3,600 m² into a flexible co‑living habitat that supports artists, remote workers, and retirees.
• Process

1. Co‑design sprint (4 weeks) with 30 participants spanning ages 18-82.
2. Rapid prototyping of moveable wall units; 12 iterations recorded in BIM.
3. Pilot occupancy – 10 units occupied for three months; built‑in feedback panels captured 1,250 responses.
4. Outcomes
5. 92 % satisfaction with spatial adaptability.
6. 27 % reduction in energy consumption due to shared daylighting strategies.
7. Increased inter‑generational workshops (painting,coding,gardening) by 48 % (project report,Maison Brique, 2024).

Measuring success – metrics and Feedback Loops

Metric	Target	Tool
Accessibility compliance	100 % (ADA 2020 + European Accessibility Act)	on‑site audit, third‑party certifier
Inter‑generational interaction rate	+30 % year‑over‑year	Survey QR codes, community event logs
Occupancy flexibility index	≥0.8 (scale 0‑1)	BIM change‑log analysis
Energy use intensity (EUI)	≤45 kWh/m²·yr	Energy monitoring platform (Enertiv)
Resident satisfaction (NPS)	>70	Net Promoter Score surveys (online & paper)

Regular quarterly reviews align these KPIs with Maison Brique’s sustainability charter, ensuring that each project iterates toward a truly age‑neutral future.