This paper presents a case study on the survey of rural residences in northern China,with the understanding of basic conditions of facilities,space characteristics,using status,living methods and the demand of the elderly based on the affordance structure matrix (ASM),to expound the relationships between spatial elements and behaviors of the elderly in rural residential space.According to the relationships between characteristics of behaviors of the rural elderly,daily activities,and the rural residential exterior space,giving an analysis of affordances of living space of the elderly and demonstrating the structure of multiple concept solutions early in design process can preserve design freedom while allowing the designer to manipulate and refine concept structures.