Understanding and enabling
Interior designers and architects alike have many things to consider when it comes to designing accessible spaces. Whether it is shared facilities like libraries, schools, museums, parks, shops, offices or individual residential spaces – there are a range of needs to be addressed. Much of society still caters for a public without restrictions – yet with factors differing from physical and mental capabilities, to age, identity, income, language to name a few – there is a need to acknowledge user diversity.
Accessible spaces mean many things to different people. To be able to feel included in the experience shared within a space can be crucial to how many people visit, attend or reside in a place. Aside from ensuring that people can access the properties with easy entry, wide doorways, clear signage etc. – there is also a need to factor in acoustic details, lighting, levelled areas, audio descriptions & braille, clear images to aid understanding, gender neutral washrooms and many other adaptions that can make people feel welcomed.