universal design and urban environment, by antonio caperna phd

META-Universitya new exchange programme for master students in

Architecture and Urbanism, set up by several partner universities in Europe

Technical University of Eindhoven St. Lucas School of Architecture Brussels-Ghent

University of Strathclyde, Department of ArchitectureBauhaus University, Weimar

School of Architecture and Landscape, LilleThe Warsaw University of Technology

University of the West of England, BristolChalmers University of Technology

Università di Roma Tre

International workshop Designing in the DarkGhent, Belgium (11/30/2008 – 12/11/2008)

International workshop Designing in the DarkGhent, Belgium (11/30/2008 – 12/11/2008)

Università degli Studi Roma Tre -Dipartimento di Studi Urbani

www.uniroma3.itwww.pism.uniroma3.it

Dr. Antonio Caperna, PhD

M.C. Escher. Concentric Rinds 1953 wood engraving

C O N T E N T S

1. General overview about disabilities

2. Universal design and urban environment

• Theoretical aspect

• Technical aspect

• examples

Disability:

Medical and Social model

A disabled person is one who has a condition called a disability that interferes with his or her ability to perform one or more activities of everyday living. For example, locomotion (indoors and going outside), getting dressed, communicating with others

Disability: Medical and Social model

Form of disabilitiesDisability may involve physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive or intellectual impairment, mental disorder, or various types of chronic disease.



Different problems, different needs

To take into account multiply options and combine it

Multisensorial design

Multiply approach

BUT….

“disabled” is an identitythat one is not necessarilyborn with, as disabilitiesare more often acquiredthan congenital.

e.g. TAB, Temporarily Able-Bodiedmany people will develop disabilitiesat some point in their lives, due toaccidents, illness (physical, mentalor emotional), or late-emergingeffects of genetics.


…..Disability refers to the social effects of physical, emotional or mental impairment

We can talk about “social model' of

disability”


if a community:

allows physical, architectural, transportation, and other barriers to remain in place, society is creating handicaps that oppress individuals with disabilities.

removes those barriers, persons with disabilities can function at much higher levels


the real issue is the societal response to disability

Universal design principles

Universal design

is an approach to the design of products, services and environments to be usable by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation.

It links directly to the political concept of an inclusive societyand its importance has been recognized by governments, business and industry.


Principles developed by the Centre for Universal Design, North Carolina State University

Principle 1: Equitable UsePrinciple 2: Flexibility in UsePrinciple 3: Simple and Intuitive UsePrinciple 4: Perceptible InformationPrinciple 5: Tolerance for ErrorPrinciple 6: Low Physical EffortPrinciple 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use


Universal Design and urban environment

… To transform the constrains into

opportunity

UNIVERSAL DESIGN

WHY/WHAT

HOW?

WHERE

Industrial designWeb designUrban Environment….

Change paradigm

URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Ethics, Social inclusion,

Indoor environment

Outdoor environment

HousesFlats

work-placepublic offices…

Existing spaces

Problem concern

Theoretical aspect

Technical aspect

New spaces


UD and Urban Environment

Urban Environment

Problem concern

Historical cities

modern cities


Outdoor environment

A practical and Theoretical tool


Identification of the needs

piazza Navona

(Rome)


We must consider all aspects of the outdoor environment:

■ street network, shape and type;■ open space;■ junctions;■ materials and kerbs;■ street/footway widths;■ street furniture, including seating and signage

Cultural and Architectural heritage


GOALUrban space should have certain qualities if it is to be responsive to human feelings and sensibilities


A legible environment - hierarchy of street types, Entrances to places and buildings are clearly visible and obvious

A distinctive environment - Urban and building form is varied There is a variety of landmarks including historic and civic buildings, distinctive structures andplaces of activity, Architectural features are in a variety of styles, colours and materials

A safe environment - Bicycle lanes are separate from footways, Paving is flat, smooth and non-slip, Street lighting is adequate for people with visual impairments, Level changes are clearly marked

Physical and mental health - Opportunities for exercise and access to fresh air

Mobility - Ease of access to facilities/amenities and open space (inc. with assistive technology); wayfinding ability and ability to go out

Sense of community - Belonging and social support networks

Autonomy and control - Independence, self-actualisation, self-esteem, and self-efficacy

….

Application

Universal Design and urban environmentANALYSIS

Source. Prof. Arch. Fabrizio Vescovo, Progetto pilota per il centro storico

Buildings (public or private)

Ministry of Culture

Municipality

others



Road network

Parking areas

Pedestrian areas

Small roads

Bus stop

Taxi station



services

Religious building

Public offices

Cultural buildings

Health services

Commercial roads




Architectural heritage



ROADS

Universal Design and urban environmentPROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

• Obstacles and protruding elements in the path of travel

• Low overhanging signs• Lack of warning signs around

obstructions• Sidewalk narrow• Rubbish skips• Car parking• disconnected road is cause of danger• Absence of blind guide• Communication at bus-stop• Sidewalk• Paving of the road improve the sound of

the traffic• Car/motorbyke parking• Low level of communication

Theoretical and technical Suggestion


Reinforcement of

Nodes

Connections

Hierarchy

Goal


Primary ways

Secondary roads

Main nodes

Secondary nodes


Services

Reserved parking

Informational points

Electric cars or scooters

Electric busses

Blind guide

Obstructions• include street furniture, traffic

signs, direction signs, street plans, bollards, plants, trees, shop awnings and advertising signs, etc.

• should be placed outside the path of travel wherever possible.

• in the pathway should be easy to detect, and if possible, should be placed along one continuous line

• The minimum width of a clear unobstructed path should be 0.90 m


Overhanging signs in accessible pathways should be mounted at a minimum clear height of 2.00m to allow a sightless person to pass safely

Overhanging vegetation should be clipped to a minimum clear height of 2.00 m

PATHWAYS

PLANNING PRINCIPLETo provide clear, obstruction-free, level and wide pathways for the convenience of all users

PROBLEMUneven curbs with obstacles and holes. Inconvenient or dangerous interruptions in the path of travel. Insufficient width. Changes in level.

CONSIDERATIONSStreet pavements, pedestrian passages in open spaces and recreational areas, pedestrian underpasses and overpasses are all considered pathways or ramps. …


Universal Design and urban environmentQuestions (check-list)

Is the pathway clear of obstructions?

Is the path of travel free of steps or stairs?

Is the path of travel easy to detect?

Is the pathway at least 0.90 m wide?

Is the surface, level, smooth and non-slip?

Does the pathway have a different colour and texture than the adjacent surfaces?

Are manholes placed outside the pedestrian path of travel?

Is grating flush with the surface of the pathway?

Are the grating openings narrow, not more than 13 mm?

Are the edges of raised pathways protected?

Are the plant varieties used obstructive to the pathway?

……

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

PRINCIPLETo facilitate the safe and independent crossing of all people.

PROBLEMUneven road surface. Lack of guide strips. Lack of warning marking for crossings. Gratings on the road surface.

CONSIDERATIONSPedestrian crossings should be equipped with traffic control signalsLow-traffic crossings frequently used by disabled people can be controlled by a

pedestrian push-button systemConstructing traffic islands to reduce the length of the crossing is

recommended for the safety of all road usersThe road surface should be firm, well-drained, non-slip and free of construction

joints


Pedestrians should have priority to the road trafficIt is important to force the drivers to reduce their speed. This can be achieved in different ways:• Traffic islands to reduce the length of the crossing for pedestrians and the width of the road crossed• The road surface at pedestrian crossings can be raised to the same level as the pathway• Speed control measures: speed humps or chicanes just before the pedestrian crossings


Guide strips

Guide strips should be constructed to indicate the position of pedestrian crossings for the benefit of sightless pedestrians

A guide strip should lead to pedestrian light poles with push buttons for the benefit of the visually disabled.


Traffic island

Light, ..


STREET FURNITURE

PLANNING PRINCIPLETo design accessible amenities convenient to all people, without obstructing the free passage of pedestrians along travel routes.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATIONLack of or improper design of street furniture. Obstructed pathways. Inaccessible street facilities.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONSstreet furniture includes bus stops, mail boxes, lampposts, signboards, telephone booths, public toilets, newspaper kiosks, planting tubs, garbage bins, etc.


Park benches


Adoption of ischial sittings

Source. Arch. Fabrizio Vescovo

Optimal distance between park benches



PARKING

For outdoor parking, accessible parking spaces should be located not more than 50 m from accessible building entrances.


Inaccessible building entrances due to difference between indoor and outdoor levels. Inaccessible routes due to differences in level.

RAMPS

The maximum recommended slope of ramps is 1:20. Steeper slopes may be allowed in special cases depending on the length to be covered

BEST PRACTICES


Realization of “informational modules” or tactile maps in tube station, bus stop, public buildings, etc.


Handrail. tactile maps in tube station, bus stop, public building, etc.


Train platform


PILOT LIGHT - miniradar


Con il PILOT-LIGHT il non-vedente potrà:- conoscere i colori dei semafori (tutti e tre) - conoscere il numero di linea e l'eventuale direzione dei mezzi pubblici (es. autobus numero 5 diretto alla stazione) - trovare le cabine telefoniche , sapere se sono libere od occupate - "leggere" i tabelloni-orari-partenze dei treni o degli aerei- trovare i binari di partenza, posti di polizia, biglietterie, bar, toilette, deposito bagagli, taxi, eccetera.- visitare i musei, individuare le opere esposte ed averne la descrizione - servirsi del Bancomat ed essere pilotato nelle varie fasi - andare a teatro ed avere la descrizione delle scene - , si sono attrezzate banche, farmacie e la stazione ferroviaria. ….

Blind people can:-Cross the main street because the system is connected with the traffic light-- which bus go to the main station - “read” the time table, know the platform, the police station, ticket point, left luggage office, bar, toilette…- go to theater and have a description of the scenes

MUSEUM


Uffizi quattro capolavori in rilievo per i non vedenti'Ritratto del Duca di Urbino' di Piero della Francesca, del 'Ritratto di giovane con medaglia' di Botticelli, del 'Ritratto di Cosimo il Vecchio' del Pontormo e della splendida 'Madonna del cardellino' di Raffaello

Museo Tattile Statale OmeroTouching art

Touch faces, bodies, gestures, expressions, discover volumes and perspective with your own hands.The Museo Tattile Statale Omero was created to fill this gap in the range of cultural services for the non-sighted, and also to offer an innovative space where artistic perception passes through multi-sense, and not just visual, stimuli.

Tiber island

Accessibility is guaranteed by lift supported by people that help disable people



Coliseum


Musei Capitolini


Villa d’Este (Tivoli, Rome)

Terraced garden


Villa d’Este (Tivoli, Rome)

PALATINO FORUM -ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA


PALATINO FORUM

ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA



Foro di Traiano

OUR CHALLENGES AS ARCHITECT

changing paradigmethical issueUD as creative challenge

Social inclusionDemographic Change in Europe, the most significant

impact will be the ageing population in Europe. By 2050 34.5 % will be over the age of 60 years old.

Economic Impacts and OpportunitiesPreserve an make accessible the historical heritage

…


universal design and urban environment, by antonio caperna phd

Education

universal design principles

sensibilities universal

universal design whywhat

multisensorial design

design of products

goal urban space

social effects of physical

social inclusion