Universal Design – Inclusive Design Architecture for Everyone and Everything. Parameters of Inclusive Design Architecture (IDA) are explored for providing higher-level comfort with effortless services and circulations. Design a space that houses all people, and takes care of small details. This will respond to their needs with architectural features and strategies. This universal design deals with different aspects relating to circulation, usage of services, and barrier-free mobility. This design approach can go beyond the limits of humans only.
Similarly, any living or non-living thing that enters the structure must be able to move or be transported to the desired destination without difficulty or obstacle. After all, all nonliving objects entering the premises are there to serve the needs of humans, and the shifting of these items is also done by humans. Why not make that transport movement easy and smooth for those people who are concerned about the object? Applying this methodology to various architectural buildings results in each structure having the most functional design for everyone and everything. To cover all aspects of disability, explaining it in terms of vision and movement is insufficient.
The latest research shows one-third of the population over 65 age, experience debilitating hearing loss. This can be treated by enhancing the architectural experience with interior design or play of materials. Another aspect includes people born with a hearing disability grow up with muteness. Considering difficulties faced by this group of people and answering them with help of space designing can create a difference in the relation of human touch to architecture. Another factor includes temporary disability, if a person suffers from an injury or an accident then there are limitations on the movement and activities that one can perform. Sometimes there might be restrictions over the movements till the patient recovers completely. That recovery period is most crucial and painful, designing a space responding to these temporary changes is necessary. The elderly are one group that does not fall under the category of disability but requires special consideration. In most cases, no one is available to assist the elderly, and given their age and generation, the use of technology with online platforms is difficult for them to comprehend. They prefer to do everything by hand, so that the ride is free of obstacles, and assisting their age-related needs will ultimately improve their experience through spaces. Discovering these elements of society, understanding their needs, and designing a structure with all of these parameters in mind is what we call inclusive architecture.
Dividing the Inclusive universal design into three categories as humans, animals and birds, and objects. Considering different types of building like home or school which accommodates people, zoos that lodges animals and birds, and ending with museums and auction centers including art forms like paintings, sculpture, or installations. Beginning with the most vital sector, residential architectural projects. No matter how much time you spend in the office, how long you have been traveling, or how far you have gone, you must come home at the end. People spend the maximum of their lifetime enclosed within those four walls of home happily and with satisfaction. Therefore, this sector must be designed with the furthermost facilities and considering each factor in depth. Any person living in that family may have a disability or goes through an injury will ultimately spend the resting time in that home only. Aged people also spend their maximum time within that space facing difficulties related to climbing up the staircase, using apparatus due to shaking hands, and issues related to vision and sound. In institutional buildings like schools, colleges, or universities the age group comprises youth, which involves in various types of physical activities and is most prone to temporary injuries or disabilities.
The student’s life will be made much easier by creating an atmosphere focused on architecture, and the psychological influence can aid in a quicker recovery. In hospitals, saline and large quantities of medication are injected into the patients. Even holding a spoon in their hand or turning on the water faucet is tough for them. Physical and mental health of patients can be impacted by their surroundings, with natural elements like light and ventilation, or by the accessibility of simple services. In reality, hospitals performed the most significant part in this pandemic crisis, confirming their significance.
Going further with the category of spaces accommodating animals and birds, the Zoos. For a variety of reasons, animals or birds of different species are transported from one to the other zoo. Unlike humans, animals take a much longer time to adapt to the new manmade environment. Those animals are in captivity and given provision of food only. To help this process of adaption and transport comfortable for those animals can add potential value to the field of architecture. Ending with the nonliving objects in spaces like museums and art studios. Art is considered more valuable than just money. Even old artifacts or heritage-valued objects are displayed in these structures. For a particular function or occasion, these items are transported with great care. But as they enter the space till the time they are showcased in their desired position must be handled with great care. If a Movement like this is disturbed or interrupted may damage the object.
Designing obstacle-free movement patterns for these objects is a must and maintaining the value with spatial qualities can help enhancing the user group experience. In conclusion, limiting architecture to the people and space paradigm can be modified by inserting the idea of design for all in terms of all user group. In all visions, human interaction is a common ground, but all the other aspects must be considered supporting and contributing in space, dead or living.
Citation:
- Helvacioglu E.and Karamanoglu N. (2012), Awareness of the concept of universal design in design education. Available at www.sciencedirect.com
- Ghosh D. and Visakha S. (2022), Acheiving Universal Accesebilities In Indian Cities.
