Priority:       	normal
Subject:        	Re: introduction
From:           	[log in to unmask]
To:             	[log in to unmask]

Jude thanks for your response - the course that I ran in Dundee 
was a research led design course and because I am one of those 
open-minded people ! I let the students decide what they want 
firstly to research and then address in their designs. To date I have 
never had a student who looked at people with short stature- 
consequently my own knowledge is also very limited - I learn a lot 
both directly from students and from  trying to keep a few steps 
ahead.
Not that it is an excuse, but as you can imagine there is a lot to 
cover in this area of designing for people, in fact its impossible to 
cover everything - but I see that impossibility more as a release 
and a stimulus for the designer than something that shouldn't be 
addressed simply because 'its impossible to get it all right all of the 
time'- usual thought of colleagues.
I think that this area - develops the designers curiousity - in fact its 
insists on it and also highlights their reliance on other people to 
inform them - they have to be modest -- ask lots of questions and 
really listen to the answers.
I'm always looking for new ideas to incorporate into my teaching 
and research - so thanks for the suggestion - I'm not yet so certain 
what my role in the school will be - they are leaving it open at 
present but I suspect I amy up organising first year come sept 
2000.
Incidentially what school of arch did you study in? - even for the 
early 90's it sounds pretty progressive. Was it in the States? - they 
are definately ahead in this way of thinking
Does SURFACE have a website?- I think I know a little bit about it 
but would like to know more.

Regards
Ruth
> 
> Welcome to the list.  I to have a degree in architecture and am 
> from  the USA, but I now live in England.  I am looking forward to  
> reviewing your work on the web site.   
> 
> I would be more interested in hearing about this course in  Dundee  
> called 'the Social Option' in the school of architecture which looked 
>  at  design for everyone.  Probably one area of which I would be  
> interested in knowing is did you included those of short stature  
> (dwarfism) in this course.  I ask this question quite a bit because 
> I'm  only 3' 7" tall or short.   :-)    The drafting desk is bigger than 
> me. 
> 
> During architecture school we were encouraged to read up on the  
> ADA and we often were thought about access issues in the same  
> way we were educated in environmental systems courses.  This  
> was in the early 1990's.  Our projects were critiqued on  
> accessibility just as much as they were critiqued on many other  
> architectural issues. 
> 
> Regards, 
> Jude 
> 
> 
> Judith M. Irving BSc Arch.Envir.
> Research / PhD Student
> S U R F A C E
> Salford University Research Focus on AcCessible Environments
> Bridgewater Building
> Salford University
> Salford, M7 9NU
> England
> Tel:0161-295-3194


Ruth Morrow 
Lecturer
School of Architecture 
University of Sheffield 
Arts Tower 
Western Bank 
Sheffield 
S10 2TN 
Tel: 0114 222 0324 
Fax: 0114 279 8276 
email: [log in to unmask] 


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