Book displays in Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library

Designing Disability traces the emergence of an idea and an ideal - physical access for the disabled - through the evolution of the iconic International Symbol of Access (ISA). The book draws on design history, material culture and recent critical disability studies to examine not only the development of a design icon, but also the cultural history surrounding it.Infirmity and illness may be seen as part of human experience, but 'disability' is a social construct, a way of thinking about and responding to a natural human condition. Elizabeth Guffey's highly original and wide-ranging study considers the period both before and after the introduction of the ISA, tracing the design history of the wheelchair, a product which revolutionised the mobility needs of many disabled people from the 1930s onwards. She also examines the rise of 'barrier-free architecture' in the reception of the ISA, and explores how the symbol became widely adopted and even a mark of identity for some, especially within the Disability Rights Movement. Yet despite the social progress which is inextricably linked to the ISA, a growing debate has unfurled around the symbol and its meanings. The most vigorous critiques today have involved guerrilla art, graffiti and studio practice, reflecting new challenges to the relationship between design and disability in the twenty-first century.

"All too often," wrote disabled architect Ronald Mace, "designers don't take the needs of disabled and elderly people into account." Building Access investigates twentieth-century strategies for designing the world with disability in mind. Commonly understood in terms of curb cuts, automatic doors, Braille signs, and flexible kitchens, Universal Design purported to create a built environment for everyone, not only the average citizen. But who counts as "everyone," Aimi Hamraie asks, and how can designers know? Blending technoscience studies and design history with critical disability, race, and feminist theories, Building Access interrogates the historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts for these questions, offering a groundbreaking critical history of Universal Design.  Hamraie reveals that the twentieth-century shift from "design for the average" to "design for all" took place through liberal political, economic, and scientific structures concerned with defining the disabled user and designing in its name. Tracing the co-evolution of accessible design for disabled veterans, a radical disability maker movement, disability rights law, and strategies for diversifying the architecture profession, Hamraie shows that Universal Design was not just an approach to creating new products or spaces, but also a sustained, understated activist movement challenging dominant understandings of disability in architecture, medicine, and society. Illustrated with a wealth of rare archival materials, Building Access brings together scientific, social, and political histories in what is not only the pioneering critical account of Universal Design but also a deep engagement with the politics of knowing, making, and belonging in twentieth-century United States.

Freedom from barriers makes possible an independent and self-determined lifestyle, encouraging mobility and integration in the cohabitation of all groups of people, including different age groups. 50 current projects are presented with the help of texts, photos, plans, and diagrams. They communicate a modern language of form, helping to create and shape contemporary living spaces for people. A provocative plea for genuinely barrier-free building and an illustrated commentary on the DIN norms round off this new standard work.

Access and accessibility are central themes in architecture and urbanism. The goal is to make buildings accessible both horizontally and vertically, as well as to provide them with technical infrastructure. But the aim is also to ensure the accessibility of whole streets, routes, parks, and squares, and even entire cities and regions. Today, access is a key concept in the most disparate areas of life. Thus, it is also a matter of access to knowledge and education, access to knowledge media like the Internet, access to healthcare, access to languages, etc. In thirteen articles, this book deals with this world of access in architecture, city planning, and neighboring fields. Topics include ensuring the accessibility of entire urban areas, renewing that of areas that were previously utilized differently, including the general populace in concept planning, and how architecture can help provide access to a better quality of life.

Buildings are not conceived solely with average people in mind; they offer a protective shell for everyone. Basics Barrier-free Planning improves our understanding of the needs of people with disabilities such as limited mobility or impaired vision, children, and the elderly, all of whom have special requirements when using a building. The book presents possibilities for designing buildings and their spaces so they can be used by everyone.

Illustrates how universal design can be integrated into a home through new construction or remodeling, while maintaining up-to-date style and beauty. The book shows how to add comfort and accessibility for people of all ages, from small children to the elderly, especially giving older homeowners the option to remain safely and comfortably in the place they love. Each chapter provides an inspiring overview of what can be done to make individual spaces as accessible as possible for every person, regardless of age, height, weight, and physical ability. The book starts with the front entry, then covers the kitchen, bathroom, living spaces (great room, office and dining area), bedrooms, laundry, and garage. Outdoor living spaces and landscaping are also included. Beautiful, full-color photos on every page provide ideas for design, layout and furniture arrangements, materials, fixtures and appliances. All guidance is backed up by accessibility guidelines culled from expert interviews and sou

Illustrating actual building design solutions that have been created to improve accessibility for disabled patrons and performers, the 'Journey Sequence' outlines the best examples of design innovation produced in response to new and upcoming legislation. A knowledge of how to design for the disabled can be crucial in winning contracts and having designs accepted. This book shows how the practical implications have already been successfully approached. Covering the whole sequence from parking, to entry, and including details of facilities for the visually and hearing impaired users, advice is given on the methods designers should use in assessing the requirements of disabled people. This is not a publication giving theoretical prescription but rather an illustrated record of achievements in buildings of all sizes where proper access to the disabled has been created. It includes 14 case studies and examples that illustrate the diverse ways that accessibility has been incorporated into arts buildings throughout the UK. This includes Cinemas, Theatres, Concert Halls, Opera Houses, Museums and Libraries. The author team highlights specific design details that are particularly unique, to stimulate the reader and show that creating better accessibility for the disabled both demands and creates innovative design.

This book for architects, interior designers, building managers, students, conference organisers looks at first principles to provide the user with the 'tools' to make their own decisions rather than a 'cookbook' approach. It is intended that designs and product information can be taken straight from the manual and inserted into ongoing projects. For the first time the book considers the needs of people with visual, hearing and mental disabilities, who make up the majority of disabled people in the population, alongside those of people with physical mobility disabilities. Practical low cost solutions to retro-fitting existing buildings are discussed, as well as the methods used to assess the suitability of an existing building, and assembling a project to improve access for disabled people. Specific products and designs are illustrated and discussed - with full working technical drawings, and full specification details. These will reduce considerably the research time needed to produce a cost-effective solution that will improve access for disabled people. A perspective of the standards and legislation dealing with access issues in the UK is compared with those in other countries, and the standards mentioned are compared with the realities of practical implementation carried out in 4 years of design in this area.