Virtual sky-windows as urban lifelines : leveraging AI-generated urban dynamism to mitigate sensory deprivation in Hong Kong’s residential care facilities for older adults

Abstract

Hong Kong’s hyper-dense residential care homes (RCHEs) often lack meaningful window access, exacerbating sensory deprivation among older residents. This study develops a virtual sky-window prototype using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content to simulate restorative window experiences. Thirty RCHE residents (65+ years old) engaged with four scene categories—nature (with/without people), urban (with/without people), cultural, and social—through mixed-methods evaluation. Contrary to biophilic design norms, urban scenes with human activity (e.g., markets, parks) were preferred, alongside dynamic nature elements (e.g., flowing water). Qualitative data revealed that urban imagery fostered social connection and nostalgia, while motion enhanced perceived “liveliness.” Culturally resonant content (e.g., festivals) strengthened collective memory integration. Findings challenge static nature-centric approaches, demonstrating that AI-curated virtual windows must incorporate movement, human presence, and localized urban vitality to improve well-being in space-constrained long-term care facilities. Participants’ reports of “seeing life beyond walls” underscore the intervention’s potential to mitigate environmental monotony. Although limited by sample size and brief exposure, this work establishes a new design paradigm for high-density care settings, positioning AI-generated virtual windows as scalable tools to address sensory impoverishment. Findings emphasize the need for environmental psychologists and designers to prioritize contextually relevant, multisensory stimuli that reflect urban seniors’ lived experiences, where virtual interventions may supplement physical windows to enhance spatial satisfaction and psychological resilience.