Co-designing a housing and livelihood toolkit with low-income older people for future housing in Klong Toey, Bangkok, Thailand

The purpose of this article is to examine the co-design process of a research project which was implemented to support an initiative led by low-income older people in Klong Toey, Bangkok. The primary objective was to co-produce a design toolkit that can guide the development of live–work housing for low-income older people in Klong Toey. A three-day co-design workshop was held with local stakeholders to develop design alternatives for the prevailing live–work activities identified as a part of the field study. Within the framework of co-design methodology, the researchers engaged with the users as facilitators and translators to produce design options that informed the toolkit. The toolkit was developed under the overarching AgeingHood project, inspired by the unique housing and livelihood needs of the older people of Klong Toey, who often run small businesses from their own homes. It was conceived out of the understanding that ageing, housing and livelihood are interrelated aspects of the lives of low-income older people in this area of Bangkok. In addition to the toolkit, the project also led to impacts such as supporting residents’ live–work needs assessment and positive engagement and collaborative working with various local stakeholders.