Hi Rosemary
Ideally what you want is a map that is inclusively designed and indicates
routes that everyone can use. A map with lots of little symbols saying
access for disabled people this way is not going to send out a good message.
I have seen some maps that explain that all buildings are accessible
except.... and then list and why explain why they are not accessible.
I clear uncluttered layout and unfussy background works well with the
landmarks picked out and main circulation routes clearly shown. Car parking
is another important aspect and on our university map accessible parking is
poorly shown and it is a long walk from the student car park to many
buildings on campus. They seem to be solving that by building student
accommodation on the student car park and leaving the students with no where
to park!
One trend seems to be to go for maps that have 3D aerial perspectives of the
buildings which I find difficult to use and to explain to people since most
people do not have wings and fly across campus as the perspective is from
above looking down on the campus.
Also you need to consider alternative formats and how you alert someone to
the availability of maps in other forms. There are people who specialise in
producing tactile maps and I can let you have their details if this helps.
It might me worth talking to James Holmes-Siedle
James Holmes-Siedle, RIBA
Director
All Clear Designs Limited
3 Devonshire Mews
London W4 2HA
Tel (020) 8400 5093
Fax (020) 8400 5094
e [log in to unmask]
w www.allclear.co.uk
You might be interested in our accessible and inclusive design discussion
list where we try to resolve these sort of issues and pass information on
about inclusion in the built environment. Details of this list are in my
signature at e very end of this now rather long e-mail!
I also wrote a short textual descriptor and also point people to the
multimap web site for getting people to our building who use e-mail and it
went along these lines:
Dear xxxx
We are quite hard to find being on the edge of campus. We are in the
Bridgewater Building on Meadow Road on the ground floor. To give you some
idea its location using the multi-map web site is at:
http://146.101.249.82/map/browse.cgi?client=M6&X=382500&Y=399000&gride=0&gri
dn=0&scale=5000&width=700&height=410
If you cannot access this site then please let me know and I will send you
directions. We also have a physical map and campus plan that we can send to
you.
Please note that the web address might lose the hyperlink function if your
e-mail software has wrapped it onto more than one line. You can tell this by
the fact that some of the web address information is not in a different
colour and is not underlined. If this is the case then please copy the web
address from the e-mail above and paste it into your web browser software
address line and press return.
If you are coming by taxi then direct them to the Meadow Road site near to
the Mocha Parade shopping precinct - otherwise you will end up on the other
side of campus.
If coming in by train you would want the Salford Crescent station and then
have to walk across the Campus and through Peel Park which is enjoyable on a
nice day and bleak on a wet one.
If coming by car then we have a car park on Meadow Road and I can give you a
token to get you out without paying the #2 parking fee.
We are hemmed in by the river on 3 sides as the photo at:
http://146.101.249.82/map/photo.cgi?client=photo&scale=5000&X=382500&Y=39925
0&width=700&height=410&gride=0&gridn=0
shows. Our building is between the two black lines which are the river
Irwell about 25mm up from the bridge on the left and 12 mm up from the
bridge on the right. The car park is just below the bridge on the left.
Let me know what suits you best and anything we can do to make your visit
more pleasant or productive.
looking forward to meeting you
hope some or all of this is useful
marcus
SURFACE
Salford Research Focus on Accessible Environments
Bridgewater Building
Salford
M5 4WT
England
Tel +44 (0)161 295 5405
Textphone +44 (0)161 295 5405
Fax +44 (0)161 295 5011
e-mail [log in to unmask]
Website www.salford.ac.uk/scpm/surface/
e-list www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
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