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Improving assessment criteria of universal design: Towards an equitable approach

Article

Last updated: 28 Dec 2024

Subjects

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Tags

Architecture Engineering

Abstract

Architecture is for everyone, thus it needs to give a chance to all individuals and groups of society to feel included and satisfied in the various facilities and public spaces. The misconception is given when architects design built environments following the ADA regulations as a burden instead of using an innovative approach to accommodate the needs and expectations of all users. To ensure the operation of equitable spaces, an innovative architectural approach is needed. A universal space is a place where all people can fit, it is a space where people from all social categories and individual characteristics are equal and satisfied. The concept of a universal design is either used wrongly or divided into accessible or / and inclusive architecture. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the significance of universal design and to put down relevant assessment criteria in order to create spaces and environments that everyone can use without feeling any discrimination. This research uses a scientific methodology to accomplish its goal by first reading the literature on universal design and its application in the design of spaces, and then by examining and comparing four chosen case studies: KWK Promes' Przelomy centre for dialogue and Steven Holl's winter visual art centre as international examples, Snohetta's Bibliotheca Alexandrina as a regional example and Zaha Hadid's Issam Fares Institute as a local example. These facts support the authors' argument that universal design is a solid starting point for appropriate design solutions to increase the equity of spaces and respond to the abilities and needs of a variety of users. As guidelines for the design of spaces, a series of recommendations are made about the effective use of this architectural approach.

DOI

10.21608/msaeng.2023.309316

Keywords

Universal design, equity, assessment criteria

Authors

First Name

Baher

Last Name

Farhat

MiddleName

Ismail

Affiliation

Faculty of Architecture - Design & Built Environment, Beirut Arab University, Beirut-Lebanon

Email

b.farhat@bau.edu.lb

City

Beirut,Lebanon

Orcid

-

First Name

Helga

Last Name

Alaeddine

MiddleName

Omar

Affiliation

Department of Psychology - Faculty of Human Sciences - Beirut Arab University, Beirut - Lebanon

Email

h.alaeddine@bau.edu.lb

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-9896-4307

Volume

2

Article Issue

3

Related Issue

42577

Issue Date

2023-06-01

Receive Date

2023-07-22

Publish Date

2023-06-01

Page Start

132

Page End

167

Print ISSN

2812-5339

Online ISSN

2812-4928

Link

https://msaeng.journals.ekb.eg/article_309316.html

Detail API

https://msaeng.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=309316

Order

6

Type

Original Article

Type Code

2,183

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

MSA Engineering Journal

Publication Link

https://msaeng.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Improving assessment criteria of universal design: Towards an equitable approach

Details

Type

Article

Created At

28 Dec 2024