제3의 공간으로서 노인교실의 공간의 의미

The meaning of the Space of Senior Class as the third space

본 연구에서는 ‘노인교실’이라는 공간을 단순한 여가나 복지기관의 차원을 넘어 학습경험이 수행되는 사회적 공간이자 ‘제3의 공간’(Third Place)’이라는 관점에서 이해하고, 인간이라면 누구에게나 가정이나 직장이 아닌 공간으로 이 ‘제3의 공간’(Third Place)’을 필요로 한다는 점에 주목하였다. 이 연구에서는 시니어 세대(65세 이상)에게도 사회적 기능을 하는 공간의 필요성에 대한 시각의 전환적 차원으로 ‘노인교실’이라는 공간의 의미에 대해 고찰해 보았다. 그 결과 노인교실’이라는 공간은 직업적인 사회활동이나 가정에서의 의무적인 역할에서 벗어나 자유의 시간을 갖는 노인들이 오는 곳으로 이 시기의 노인들이 찾는 노인교실의 공간은 사회적 공간으로서 대강의실-관계성 형성 및 노인문화향유, 소강의실-정기적인 재충전의 공간, 창조의 공간-무대공간의 기능을 하는 것이 관찰되었다. 본 연구에서 노인교실의 공간의 의미는 노인들의 집이나 가정이 아닌 다른 공간에 대한 욕구를 반영한 공간으로서 특히 은퇴해서 제2공간(직장)이 사라진 노인들의 경우 사회적 공간(제3의 공간)으로서 중요한 공간이며 타인과의 만남과 다양한 프로그램을 통해 재충전 할 수 있는 장소이자 평범한 일상생활 속에서 유희와 즐거움을 느낄 수 있는 특별한 장소로서의 기능이 노인교실에서 연구결과 확인되었다.

In this study, in order to examine the significance of the space called senior class of the elderly in the space, I looked at the significance of the space of the senior class.The results of this study show that the senior class played a role of social space due to the necessity of a space that can provide the environment and the energy for the elderly that can help them overcome the feeling of social alienation and loneliness that he elderly face. The spaces such as big lecture hall, small lecture room, and festival stage at the senior college were observed. First, in this study, the space called 'Senior Class' was where the elderly come at their free time and away from their professional work activities or obligatory duties at home and the senior class space that the elderly visit at this time was observed to have functions of classroom-relationship formation and enjoyment of the elderly culture, small lecture room-periodic recharging space, and creative space-stage space function. This result showed that the features of the space of senior class are in conformity with the concept and definition of the 'third space', and the significance of the space called Senior Class as a typical social space from the perspective that it has a function as the 3rd space was confirmed to have the functions as a happy place that Oldenburg (1989) says, an oasis like place that Howard Schultz refers to where you can relax away from the boredom of day to day affairs, a space for deep thoughts and creativity besides being a living and production space that Kim Su-gune(2012) mentions, and an experiential space that was produced based on convenience and fun that provide emotional satisfaction. In this study, it was confirmed that the significance of the 'senior class' space is that it’s a space that it reflects the elderly's desire for a space other than home or family and especially, it is an important space as the social space for the elderly who have retired and do not have the second space (workplace), and that is a place where they can recharge themselves with encounters with others through various programs as well as having the function of being a special place where the elderly can have fund and pleasure in their ordinary life.Therefore, since there are limitations in the explanation of the regional and economic aspects and general social and cultural aspects of the senior college, the need for various approaches is raised and further studies are necessary, and more wide range studies on the senior class is necessary.