This item is in the RIBA newsletter World Issue 421 and may interest some on
the list.
ACCESS TO SUCCESS
There are two interesting angles on the news story that a design award for
accessibility has been won by Herzog & de Meuron's $135m de Young museum in
San Francisco.
The first is that the award has been made not by architects but by users -
The Paralyzed Veterans of America. The second is that the prize goes not to
the star designers but to the local executive team of Fong & Chan Architects
(FCA).
Preparation for the project's detailed design included the distribution of
more than 1,200 questionnaires to members of the disability community.
'There are no ramps; the horizontal design also boosts accessibility by
limiting the challenges associated with total vertical circulation, in this
case provided by strategically placed elevators at prominent intersections.
Fully accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are strategically
dispersed...the auditoriumoffers visitors abundant wheelchair accessible and
companion seating...'
http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek06/0721/0721pva.cfm
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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
http://www.inclusive-design.it
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
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