Promoting and Implementing Active Aging in Italy: The Case of Abitare Villa Mater, a Community Hub for Active Longevity

Aging is a significant challenge: The number of people aged 80 and over is expected to rise from 142 million in 2020 to 426 million by 2050, per the World Health Organization. In Italy, where older adults represent a substantial share of the population, innovative models are needed to promote active, healthy, and inclusive aging beyond traditional care-based approaches. This article presents an exploratory qualitative case study named Abitare Villa Mater, focusing on the design and implementation process of a pilot project under development in Rivoli (within the Turin metropolitan area). The initiative promotes collaborative living for self-sufficient individuals aged 60 and over, fostering social interaction, cognitive and physical activity, and community engagement to delay or prevent health decline. It provides high-quality living conditions by balancing privacy with shared experiences and mutual support. The project integrates social sciences and architecture through participatory methods, including multidisciplinary working groups, stakeholder consultations, and public meetings to assess needs and expectations. Funded and promoted by a local foundation, whose support has been crucial to both design and implementation, Abitare Villa Mater—despite its small scale—offers a promising case for integrated social, cultural, and preventive initiatives that support active aging. The project combines individual services with co-designed and co-produced initiatives for residents and the wider community. By creating safe, engaging, and health-promoting environments, it reframes aging as participation in and contribution to society, aligning with a welfare paradigm shift from reactive, demand-driven provision to proactive and generative approaches.