The Kopitiam Experiment: Reinventing Aging-in-Place Through Unlikely Community Spaces

The Kopitiam Experiment: Reinventing Aging-in-Place Through Unlikely Community Spaces

TOUCHpoint@AMK433 is a Community Enablement Project (CEP) aimed at creating a senior-friendly precinct in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore, where older adults can age comfortably within their community. The project sought to expand community engagement by leveraging underutilized coffee shops—a natural social hub—to foster connections and promote healthier lifestyles among seniors. This case study explores how human-centered design, participatory workshops, and placemaking transformed an existing space into a vibrant community asset while broadening TOUCH Community Services’ outreach.

TOUCHpoint@AMK433 is a Community Enablement Project (CEP) aimed at creating a senior-friendly precinct in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore, where older adults can age comfortably within their community. The project sought to expand community engagement by leveraging underutilized coffee shops—a natural social hub—to foster connections and promote healthier lifestyles among seniors. This case study explores how human-centered design, participatory workshops, and placemaking transformed an existing space into a vibrant community asset while broadening TOUCH Community Services’ outreach.

DURATION

1 month

MY ROLE

Experience Designer & UX Researcher

CLIENT

TOUCH Community Services

TAGS

Community Engagement, Placemaking, User Research, Experience Design, Public Engagement

My Role

My Role

As a Experience Designer & Researcher, I led:

  • User interviews & engagement – Conducted 1-on-1 conversations with seniors, volunteers, and stakeholders.

  • Workshop facilitation – Ran sense-making and ideation sessions using Lego Serious Play.

  • Prototyping & testing – Refined concepts through focus group discussions.

  • Placemaking strategy – Ensured designs aligned with community needs.

Key Pain Points

Key Pain Points

The existing TOUCHpoint@AMK433 space was too small for future group activities.

  • Nearby coffee shops were underutilized, despite being natural gathering spots.

  • Seniors lacked accessible social spaces that encouraged healthy living.

Impact

  • Without intervention, seniors risked social isolation and limited access to wellness activities.

  • Coffee shops remained empty assets instead of community hubs.

Defining the Problem Statement

Defining the Problem Statement

How might we repurpose under-utilised coffee shops in Ang Mo Kio to create inclusive, socially engaging spaces that support seniors in aging actively within their community?

Goals

Goals

Business Goals (TOUCH Community Services)

  • Increase community reach beyond existing beneficiaries.

  • Strengthen partnerships with local businesses.

  • Establish a sustainable model for senior engagement.

User Goals (Seniors & Residents)

  • Accessible social spaces for interaction.

  • Opportunities for healthier lifestyle activities.

  • A sense of belonging within their neighbourhood.

Process

  1. Research – Interviews with seniors, shopkeepers, and TOUCH volunteers.

  2. Sensemaking Workshops – Identified key pain points and opportunities.

  3. Ideation (Lego Serious Play) – Co-created solutions with stakeholders.

Key Learnings

  1. Coffee shops are powerful community anchors – Their informal setting lowers barriers to participation.

  2. Co-design builds ownership – Residents were more invested when involved in the ideation process.

  3. Small interventions create big impact – Simple placemaking changes significantly improved engagement.

Key Learnings

Outputs from the LSP workshops

  1. Coffee shops are powerful community anchors – Their informal setting lowers barriers to participation.

  2. Co-design builds ownership – Residents were more invested when involved in the ideation process.

  3. Small interventions create big impact – Simple placemaking changes significantly improved engagement.

1. Aligning Business Goals with Community Needs

Coffee owners built models of their "ideal customer flow" alongside seniors’ "ideal social space."
Compromise Found:

  • Owners wanted more foot traffic → Seniors needed quieter hours.

  • Solution: Designated "Senior Social Hours" (e.g., 9–11 AM) with discounted drinks to drive business.

2. Addressing Operational Concerns

Owners constructed Lego "pain points" (e.g., lost table turnover, added cleanup).
Solutions Co-Designed:

  • Modular Furniture: Lightweight, stackable chairs for quick reconfiguration.

  • Activity Schedules: Posted calendars to avoid peak meal times.

  • Shared Maintenance: Volunteers/Touch staff help reset spaces post-events.

3. Revenue-Sharing Opportunities

Models of "win-win" setups (e.g., health workshops selling drinks).
Piloted Ideas:

  • "Wellness Bundles" Coffee + free blood pressure check.

  • Local Biz Collaborations – Nearby pharmacies/clinics sponsored events in exchange for visibility.

Outputs from the LSP workshops

1. Aligning Business Goals with Community Needs

Coffee owners built models of their "ideal customer flow" alongside seniors’ "ideal social space."
Compromise Found:

  • Owners wanted more foot traffic → Seniors needed quieter hours.

  • Solution: Designated "Senior Social Hours" (e.g., 9–11 AM) with discounted drinks to drive business.

2. Addressing Operational Concerns

Owners constructed Lego "pain points" (e.g., lost table turnover, added cleanup).
Solutions Co-Designed:

  • Modular Furniture: Lightweight, stackable chairs for quick reconfiguration.

  • Activity Schedules: Posted calendars to avoid peak meal times.

  • Shared Maintenance: Volunteers/Touch staff help reset spaces post-events.

3. Revenue-Sharing Opportunities

Models of "win-win" setups (e.g., health workshops selling drinks).
Piloted Ideas:

  • "Wellness Bundles" Coffee + free blood pressure check.

  • Local Biz Collaborations – Nearby pharmacies/clinics sponsored events in exchange for visibility.

Next Project
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Let's Collaborate

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collaboration or an idea you may have

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Let's Collaborate

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collaboration or an idea you may have

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Introduction

Problem

Goals

Impact

Our Users

Process

What we learned

Future