Socially innovating architectural design practice by mobilising disability experience. An exploratory study

Abstract

Well-considered building codes turn out to be insufficient to ensure inclusive building design, suggesting a need for change in how building accessibility is addressed in architectural design practice. This article presents Rent-a-Spatialist, an attempt at socially innovating architectural design practice based on the skills of disabled people. Due to their particular interaction with the built environment, disabled people are able to appreciate spatial qualities architects may not be attuned to, which would contribute to a more inclusive built environment.Because this ability is rarely used in architectural design practice, and disabled people have a vulnerable position on the job market, we explored the potential of mobilising disability experience as a consultancy service to inform architectural design practice, which connects improving material conditions with improving social relations. To this end we probed the interest in such a service by interviewing 34 built environment professionals involved in building design and construction or exploitation in Belgium or the Netherlands. In addition, seven disabled people and 12 HR experts specialised in workforce diversity were interviewed about the potential of the envisaged service. Findings suggest that the service could strengthen disabled people's position on the job market by enabling them to gain work experience. However, efforts are needed to convince built environment professionals of its added value, and to clarify issues related to disabled people's employee status.

Ten questions concerning inclusive design of the built environment

“…Interviews with professional architects indicate that they tend to associate inclusive design with the top-down framework of accessibility legislation, certificates, etc. [66]. Moreover, accessibility legislation is felt by designers as restricting their creativity and removing the challenge to come up with intelligent design solutions [37].…”

Neurodivergent Themed Neighbourhoods as A Strategy to Enhance the Liveability of Cities: The Blueprint of an Autism Village, Its Benefits to Neurotypical Environments

“…Aside from enhancing the environments of people living with autism, this paper also proposes an urban design strategy that considers the spatial needs of neurodivergents to improve the environment qualities of cities. Disabled people's involvement may contribute to a more inclusive built environment by bridging two concepts architects tend to consider as unrelated, that is, accessibility and spatial experience [10]. As this is yet to be tested, credible literatures will be used to The enhancements in the proposed residential setting supports the well-being of ASD individuals.…”

“…The term 'social innovation' is used to denote finding acceptable solutions to problems of exclusion, deprivation, and lack of well-being. Providing this change means the improvement of social relations-micro relations between individuals and people, but also macro relations between classes and other social groups [10]. This relationship between humans and their environment is emphasised by James J. Gibson's Theory of Affordances [58,59].…”

“…To obtain their subjective preferences, the questions included are (1) the type of home they prefer to live in; (2) what do they wish their house could have been; (3) if there is anything in their current home that they would like to follow for their new home; (4) what do they like or dislike about their neighbourhood; (5) what features do they want their neighbourhood to have; (6) what indoor and outdoor places they like and dislike; (7) what outdoor activities, hobbies, and special interests they enjoy; (8) how do they feel when they are doing these activities; (9) if they like and are fine to meet and live with fellow autistic individuals; (10) if they want or have a pet; (11) what is their daily mode of travel; (12) do they work, if yes, what do they do for living; (13) the type of neighbourhood they prefer to stay in. They were also given some environment characteristics to choose from, such as (1) trees and plants; (2) bright or earth tone colours; (3) noisy or quiet; (4) natural daylight or artificial light; (5) enclosed or open spaces; (6) big or small spaces.…”

Designing from a Disabled Body: The Case of Architect Marta Bordas Eddy

“…Their experiences of built space are generally frictionless, but for disabled people the process of everyday life-getting dressed, going out, shopping, etc.-may take varying amounts and types of effort, leading to a careful attentiveness which is itself an expertise'. In considering disabled user/experts as playing a complementary part in the design process side-by-side professional designers, Ann Heylighen et al [39] advance disability as a potential resource to be integrated in their professional practice. How, then, should we consider Marta Bordas Eddy, a practicing architect, who has first-hand access to distinctive variables through her own body?…”