Author: Jane Bringolf

Role of universities in the built environment

Research abounds on universal design and inclusive access in the built environment. But is there another role for universities in the built environment? A group of researchers in New Zealand thinks there is.

Research on universal design in the built environment doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. So, should universities to do more to improve the built environment? If so, what should they do? Image of Massey University.

A group of students sit on a bench in a grassed area outside a white university building with red roofs.

Many academic research findings have not led to real improvement. This is because political activism is not the main function of academics. However, academics have a role in the collation of data from all stakeholders and drawing of conclusions as to what might be useful initiatives. Two universities in New Zealand got together to see if they could improve matters. In their paper, they present a case study in bringing together the key stakeholders.

The research paper explains their method of engagement with students, disability advocates and construction stakeholders. They were able to introduce the concepts of a universal design approach to the design and construction courses.

Students collected data on the perspectives of quantity surveyors, construction site managers, project managers and architects. They carried out access audits of buildings and the people that worked in them. This data collection is ongoing in 2025.

Three steps to improvement

First, they formed symbiotic relationships between advocacy groups, disability organisations and academics. The end result was a petition with nine actions to the government to improve access to the built environment for people with disability.

Second, academics who were supervising students got together with construction sector stakeholders. They shared access to data on case study buildings and construction professionals’ shared their perspectives.

In return, fact sheets and short articles were used to increase the knowledge on different aspects of accessibility. Many public buildings in New Zealand are inaccessible, and few construction sector stakeholders know about the need for universal design.

Third, approximately 200 students a year will get Master of Construction degrees from Massey University’s School of Built Environment. Universal design is included in the master’s program. This means future construction lawyers, quantity surveyors and construction managers will know more about this important topic.

The research results were presented to legislators, construction professionals and advocacy groups. It has helped raise awareness amongst stakeholders with a petition to government with recommendations.

The title of the article is, The role of the university in making the built environment more
accessible and inclusive for people with disability: A case study from New Zealand.

Gender mainstreaming in urban landscapes

Traditional design frameworks often overlook the lived experiences of women, young people, older people, and other marginalised groups. A paper from South Africa proposes a model that integrates and mainstreams gender and intergenerational needs.

This paper draws on policy frameworks and case studies from Vienna, Zurich, Luxembourg, and South Africa. Safety, social cohesion and environmental resilience are key elements for inclusion. Image of a City Tree in Berlin.

A town square in Berlin has large square concrete installations containing living plants to help clean the air.

Urban public spaces are traditionally designed with a focus on aesthetics, functionality and efficient infrastructure. However, such approaches are no longer addressing the complexities of urban societies.

Vienna, Zurich and Luxembourg

The concept of gender mainstreaming has its roots in gender equality and women’s rights to public space. Vienna, Austria has a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy. The city has invested in lighting improvements, and improved surveillance through the design of open spaces. Transportation systems also fall under this strategy.

Luxembourg City is a pioneer in creating accessible and gender-sensitive public spaces. Urban planning and design considers people with disability, women, children, and older adults. The city has pedestrian-focused urban spaces that are safe and easy to navigate.

As one of the most inclusive cities globally, Zurich, places an emphasis on its diverse social and cultural society. Zurich’s approach is one of participatory planning by engaging with marginalised groups. The aim is to include the varied voices of residents in planning. Image of Rennweg.

A street in Zurich showing outdoor cafe seating, street seating pedestrians and cyclists. Shops and five storey buildings line the street.

This paper has more detail about different European cities and good urban design examples. Cities like Zurich have set a high standard in making public spaces accessible for people with disability. Transport networks are integral to this strategy along with public parks, toilets and street furniture. It goes beyond regulatory compliance to embrace an ethos of universal design.

While South Africa acknowledges the importance of inclusive cities, there are barriers that to implementation. These include institutional silos, budget constraints, and limited professional capacity at local government level. Policies are in place but implementation is lacking. However, the case studies of Zurich, Vienna and Luxembourg show that inclusion is achievable.

The title of the paper is Reimagining public spaces for a new generation: Gender mainstreaming and inclusive design in future urban landscapes.

Being along for the real experience

The disabling reality of the existing built environment is difficult to understand from a distance. That is the distance of being without disability. Architect Mary Ann Jackson relates several short stories of ‘being along’ for the real experience of disability. She writes about assessments of the built environment using the ‘being along’ method as a powerful educator.

Jackson and colleagues used the being along sessions to assess the built environment with people with disability. The short vignettes highlight how crucial it is for architects to work with people with disability.

A woman and a man walk down a cobbled laneway where the buildings are brightly decorated with public art and graffiti.

The article, An ordinary day, was published in the Australian Institute of Architects magazine on page 22. It illustrates how an ordinary day becomes a major event for people with disability. Here are some key points from the vignettes created from being along in inner Melbourne.

Key points from vignettes

Just getting from the car to the footpath is a no fuss action for most people. But for some it takes some thought and extra effort. “I need time to get out of the driver’s seat, get outside the car, get my stick sorted, and get onto the footpath.” In this case, the footpath involves cobbled bluestone kerbing and guttering making the exercise more difficult. So it is about context as well.

Walking a few metres up the middle of a cobblestoned laneway because the footpath was too narrow to bother with, was just too much for a companion using a wheelchair. Having no footpath in inner city laneways is a problem, but so is lack of footpaths in suburbia.

Hotel bathrooms often include a shower seat, but some guests prefer a shower chair. The public bathroom raised toilet pan used in these bathrooms is not good for shorter people.

Although people who are blind often have well-developed hearing skills, there is a growing cohort of deaf-blind people and silent cars.

A pet peeve is the double mini-step – small threshold upstand of up to 25mm, followed by a level length less than 800mm, followed by another small threshold upstand.

What is not there is also a problem. The lack of public seating, accessible parking, and accessible toilets impacts individual mobility considerably.

The footplates of the powered wheelchair hit hazard TGSIs fixed to the too-steep kerb ramp incline which brought the wheelchair to a grinding halt. (Kerb ramps ideally should be 1 in 10 or flatter with TGSI.)

It shouldn’t be assumed that all dog exercisers are can walk or walk well when accessing dog parks. Pinebark in the park can damage wheelchairs so accessing playgrounds or exercise equipment is tricky if not impossible.

A grinding halt

Coming to a grinding halt is the very definition of inaccessibility. Jackson hopes that these vignettes in the AIA Architecture magazine serve to educate. She believes the architectural profession must be working together with people with disability. Near enough isn’t good enough because accessibility lies in the details being correct.

Universal design is about diversity

Universal design is about diversity, equity and inclusion, and whether you use this term or “inclusive design” is of little importance. Indeed there are many ways to explain designs that include, support, and enable. Everyone appreciates designs that create a sense of belonging, comfort and convenience – that’s universal appreciation.

The underpinning principle of universal design is inclusiveness and to avoid barriers to inclusion and participation in everyday life. Image of a conference slide at the 2020 UD Conference in Brescia.

Slide at a conference with the words, good design enable. Bad design disables.

Some find the lack of a definitive terms to describe the quest for inclusiveness problematic and seek to find a solution. While this might cause some angst for academics, practitioners have other priorities.

Given that universal design is about diversity and different ways of finding solutions, we should consider many ways of describing universal design. Perhaps a one-size-fits-all term is too limiting. People who are excluded by designs have their own names for both good and bad design.

Here are some terms that emerged from a workshop some years ago, but are current today. You can download the full list of the diversity of explanations.

  • Caring design: taking care to be inclusive
  • Empathetic design: putting yourself in the situation of others
  • Collaborative design: essential for some cultural groups
  • Fragile design: needs community agreement to work
  • Everyday design: to be ubiquitous, accepted and normal
  • Provocative design: challenging the status quo

A conference paper, Calling a Spade a Shovel: Universal, accessible, adaptable, disabled – aren’t they all the same? discusses the issue of terminology in the context of housing. Many terms have emerged for housing: accessible, adaptable, disabled and seniors. A universal design approach would capture them all. However, specialist housing for people with high level needs are also necessary.

So let’s end the discussion on one term being better than another and focus our attention on designing and creating inclusive communities.

Accessible transport resource collection

The National Centre for Accessible Transport in the UK has collated a sizeable accessible transport resource collection. The aim is to see what is known and to reveal the gaps in knowledge. The collection contains guidelines, research reports, policy statements, and action plans. The material is mostly from the last ten years, some of which has appeared on this website before.

Each title takes you to a document summary where you can download the document or link to the webpage. Image from the ncat website

Image from NCAT and the Accessible Transport Resource Collection. It shows a lab scene with a designer and a man sitting in a power wheelchair.

To get an idea of the publications here are some of the most recent ones:

The Resource Collection project is by the National Centre for Accessible Transport. It is a compilation of existing knowledge about accessible transport in the UK. A table lists the resources with the title and a link, a short summary, the type of resource and the date produced. There is a total of 630 documents some of which are specific for a particular disability type or group.

The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat), is an ‘evidence centre’. The purpose is to understand, document and analyse the current transport landscape. It does this by engaging with disabled people to hear about their experiences and transport professionals.

The About Us page has links to their latest projects. There is opportunity for members of the public to get involved by sharing ideas and finding solutions that work.

Hearing augmentation in public buildings

Smart phone apps have been a game changer for many of our daily activities. And now hearing augmentation in public buildings is taking the same route. There is a lot of hype about Auracast and how it will solve problems hearing in different situations. But it will take time for market uptake to make it mainstream. However, it will eventually replace hearing loops, infrared and FM systems.

Sydney Opera House has installed Auracast in the Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio. Currently, patrons collect a receiver and headphones from the cloakroom. The FM and hearing loop systems remain in all other areas.

Sydney Opera House at night sporting red coloured sails during the winter festival Vivid. The venue has hearing augmentation.

Auracast claims to help people hear in just about any situation using a smartphone app and either earbuds, headsets or hearing aids. It works with Bluetooth LE and theoretically it is possible on any device that supports Bluetooth 5.2. But not all hearing aids can link with this technology – yet. That’s why the Sydney Opera House has receivers and headphones for people who wear hearing aids.

Specialist in hearing augmentation services, Andrew Stewart, provided the assistive technology sector with a newsletter on this topic. He advises:

“A minimal number of smartphones and some new versions of hearing aids released this year (but not all) currently have Bluetooth LE working. Some manufacturers say their devices have Auracast or are Auracast-ready, which is not entirely true. They need an update via the audiologist’s computer, which is not yet available.”

Uptake will take time and money

Not every model of hearing aid and cochlear processor will immediately have Bluetooth LE. It will take some years for every model of hearing aid and cochlear processor to have it. Plus the high cost of hearing aids means it will take years for people to purchase updated models, and of course the cost of the smartphone.

Hearing loops and FM augmentation systems are here to stay for a while yet. Not all venues with this technology will replace it with Auracast. However, for new and extensively refurbished public buildings it will be much cheaper and easier to install.

The title of Andrew Stewart’s newsletter post is, Auracast – the new buzz word for people with hearing loss.

More on hearing augmentation

How do hearing loops work? this post from 2020 remains relevant.

Just what is a hearing loop? includes an item on how much it improves theatre patronage.

Cities for people with hearing loss is an article expressing frustration that accessibility is not just about wheelchair users. 1 in 6 people have hearing loss.

Traveller rights: travelling should be fun

Advocates for inclusive tourism focus on presenting arguments for economic benefits, but few have focused on traveller rights. A blog site post looks at the current landscape of accessible travel. It begins with statistics and lists the top 10 European destinations for accessibility. This is followed by understanding your rights as a disabled traveller in the UK.

“Travelling should be an enjoyable experience for everyone. But some barriers to travel are not obvious. That’s why some people feel hesitant about taking a holiday or day trip.”

A woman walks besides a man in a wheelchair. They are in an older part of a town or city with a wide footpath.

The blog post explores traveller rights across varies parts of a holiday journey in the UK. The aim is to tell people what their rights are. For example, a disabled person’s rights when boarding a plane, and travelling with an assistance animal. Tips for mobility rights across different modes of transport – trains, coaches, and cars – is provided. These rights are common across Europe and other countries.

What about travel insurance?

Insurance companies must treat a person with disability the same as a person without disability unless they can justify it. Neither can they offer a lower standard on cover based on disability. But they can ask for a higher premium so ask for evidence of this in the same way as someone with a health condition.

Graphic of know your travel insurance rights

Practical advice

The section on practical advice is to plan well, read reviews about accessibility features. Check the size of the room and the distance of your room to the exit and other amenities. Airports and airlines are notorious for causing problems for disabled travellers and this is covered as well.

This is a long and detailed blog page on Skyscanner with much to take in. Although the post is for UK audiences, much of the information is applicable elsewhere.

The title of the article is, What travellers with disabilities need to know about their rights. Images are from the Skyscanner website.

LGBTQIA+ perspectives on inclusive public space

A study by the University of Westminster and Arup revealed some important information about LGBTQIA+ perspectives on inclusive public space. Public seating featured in many of the responses to different survey questions along with design features everyone would like. Consequently, this study is a good example of how focusing on a marginalised group can improve the built environment for everyone.

“A legacy of Victorian design culture means that they continue to express institutionalisation, not inclusivity.”

In the past, buildings such as law courts were designed to express authority and to intimidate. This creates feelings of exclusion. Image from Historic England Blog

Manchester town hall and St Peter's Square - a public space designed in Victorian times.

A survey found that LGBTQIA+ people had a lot to say about public space and buildings. For example, they regarded hospitals as uncomfortable places – they felt impersonal, soulless, and alienating. The most important factors shaping inclusivity were street furniture to relax on, green spaces, easy access to transportation and quality lighting.

Paradoxically, traditional security features such as CCTV felt like hostile architecture because they made the place uncomfortable. It’s about the sense of what is being protected and who is being policed.

The survey report discusses gaybourhoods with mixed thoughts on advantages and disadvantages.

“The prevalence of queer imagery such as the Pride flags were generally seen as welcoming features. However, some respondents raised concerns that there may be a greater risk of hate crime when leaving the space.” Image from report, Janet Echelman TED 2014 Sculpture.

A giant brightly coloured aerial sculpture that looks like a closely woven fine web of threads. It soars above the urban space below. LGBTQIA+ perspectives on public space

Visibility and privacy

A common theme from the study is the ability to see the whole area and exits without being viewed themselves. For example, street seating behind low walls or screened by shrubs. In effect, a cosy corner without feeling watched.

Rather than active surveillance, respondents prefer busy and diverse spaces with lots of people so they can blend in without fear of being targeted.

What makes public space inclusive?

The survey respondents were far more receptive to sounds, smells and visual ambience of space than heterosexual men. It’s interesting to note that people who are neurodivergent also rate these factors as important. In terms of public monuments, respondents felt more diverse representation would change street ambience to be less intimidating.

Bus stations and hospitals

To some degree the survey respondents were likely expressing similar design dislikes to many others. Bus stations with low roofs, noise and fumes, and poor wayfinding were mentioned in the survey. Entry to hospitals with long blank concrete walls reinforced the messages that this place is about procedures, not people.

The title of the full report from Arup is Queer Perspectives on Public Space. Or you can read the shorter version from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) titled LGBTQ+ perspectives on safety and inclusion in public space.

Queering cities in Australia

An earlier publication by Arup asks the question, ‘How could we make public spaces more inclusive for LGBTIQ+ community?’ Queering Cities in Australia is a collaborative research project with Australian universities. This follows a similar project in with the University of Westminster.

You can download the publication and other Arup reports on their Insights webpage.

Front cover of Queering Cities in Australia featuring to men and a girl child.

A Canadian policy response to LGBT housing

Below is the abstract from an article in the Canadian Planning and Policy Journal about housing. The title is, Identifying barriers associated with LGBT seniors’ housing: Opportunities moving forward in the Canadian context.

From the abstract

This paper discusses housing implications for planning and operating LGBT-inclusive housing. Barriers identified by older LGBT people include: fear of discrimination, homophobia, transphobia and violence from staff and residents, housing affordability and availability, health challenges, feeling unsafe, intersectional barriers, and building maintenance.

Barriers identified by housing service providers include: no current inclusion practices at their workplaces, lack of LGBT information for staff and residents, health challenges for older people, and housing affordability.

This research was based on a qualitative analysis of a survey of 970 older LGBT people and housing providers across Canada. We discuss the role of housing service providers, health care providers, planners, and others in creating inclusive housing accommodations and services

It is critical to provide better information on housing choices for older people, and implement anti-discrimination policies and LGBT competency training for housing providers and staff. Engaging the older LGBT community in the development of housing and housing policy, is essential.

Autism-friendly museums and co-design

Museums Victoria worked with autistic user/experts to co-design museum spaces and resources. Taking a flexible approach is essential to meaningful participation of autistic people. The experience showed the concept of co-design can be interpreted in different ways. Of course, design outcomes of autism-friendly museums are good for everyone – universal design.

Participants reported improved design outcomes, increased knowledge, and positive emotional experiences as outcomes gained from co-design. An autism-friendly approach to design enhances the universal design of public buildings.

A family of two parents, three children and a baby in a stroller walk through a museum corridor. The image is part of the museum's autism-friendly museum promotion.

Autism is considered a normal variation of human neurodiversity rather than a diagnostic disorder. More than 80% of Australians who identify as autistic also identified as experiencing disability. This is due to their inability to go places and participate comfortably.

Museums play an important role in society and should therefore be accessible and usable by everyone. They offer valuable opportunities for learning, social interaction and cultural engagement. Autistic visitors have diverse experiences and the built environment plays a big part. Lighting, noise, unclear signage, inaccessible bathrooms are all barriers.

It’s not just bricks and mortar, it’s how people physically interact in that space that can create barriers. Crowded spaces and staff attitudes also matter. Participants emphasised that consideration of accessibility across all museum spaces and facilities is crucial.

An exhibit of native animals and birds in Melbourne Museum.

Key findings from co-design

  • Involving autistic people in the design process can result in better design outcomes for autistic people, their families, and other museum users.
  • Future projects should include autistic people and people with disability in all design stages and decision making.
  • When planning co-design it is important to be flexible and accommodating of people’s different needs.
  • Working with autistic people and people with disability in co-design projects can improve designer’s knowledge and confidence about neurodivergence, disability, and inclusive design.

The title of the research paper is, Co-designing autism-friendly museums: insights from autistic individuals and museum professionals.

From the abstract

Researchers investigated how co-design processes with autistic people were implemented by a museum to enhance its usability. The museum partnered with an autism advocacy organisation. The researchers interviewed four employees of the museum and two employees of the advocacy organisation.

Four major themes emerged. 1. Museums Victoria prioritises usability for all people. 2. Co-design is more than consultation. 3. Collaborative, iterative, and flexible co-design should occur throughout design stages. 4. There are challenges, but co-design leads to positive outcomes.

Findings strongly support the participation of autistic people in the co-design of museum facilities and the factors that facilitate this process. Participants reported improved design outcomes, increased knowledge, and positive emotional experiences as outcomes gained from co-design. Findings also suggest that an autism-friendly approach to design can enhance universal design of public buildings.

Social inclusion through participatory planning

The relevant ministries of the five Nordic countries are concerned that cities are becoming more socially divided. For countries known for supporting social justice and inclusion, this is a relatively new development. So what is going on, and what to do about it? Fortunately Nordic countries have laws supporting the concept of social inclusion through participatory planning. However, it’s more complex than that.

Participation is a prerequisite for democracy. It enables the redistribution of power by involving citizens in making decisions both for their own good and in the public interest. A Nordic group is looking beyond segregation to social inclusion.

Front cover of the report, Beyond segregation: Nordic approaches to socially inclusive cities.

Population segregation has emerged as a growing issue in the five Nordic countries and policy-makers are looking to improve social inclusion. Citizen participation is strongly emphasised in national legislation and the governance of municipalities. So the concept of community involvement is already present. However, legislation alone is insufficient to bring about change.

Social inclusion: beyond segregation

A research report looks at all five countries and compares policies and practice. Part three of the report looks at polices for counteracting segregation and encouraging social inclusion. Part 5 looks at the participatory planning aspects in each of the countries. The discussion in part 7 draws together the research findings.

Participatory planning approaches

Part 7 of the report covers the types of participatory planning approaches used. Each country has a national strategy and policy programs emphasising participation. However it falls to the local municipalities to implement the strategies and policies. Some municipalities go beyond the policy requirements and legal frameworks.

Each of the Nordic cities has a good story to tell about creative ways of involving citizens in planning. This includes engaging with children and young people, older people and people with disability.

However, challenges remain, particularly engaging with more silent, passive or marginalised groups. While there is a strong public desire to participate, limited understanding of the processes can hold things back. In other situations, citizens are uncertain whether their voices will play out at the implementation stage.

Limited resources are also an issue. Norwegian municipalities tend towards informing rather than involving. A shortfall of competence at municipal level is also a factor. Consequently, there is less participation in the early stages of planning.

All five Nordic countries are ultimately seeking to promote democratic decision-making and inclusive urban development. They seek to address challenges such as legal ambiguity, resource constraints and the engagement of marginalised groups. The different participatory approaches demonstrate advances in overcoming barriers to engagement.

This is a long report because each part has an in-depth look at each country. However, it is easy to read and will be of interest to anyone involved in community participation. The title is, Beyond segregation: Nordic approaches to socially inclusive cities.

The webinar below is in English.