Urbanists from Big City Lab completed the Album of barrier-free solutions

/ Urbanism /

The project was created under the auspices of the first lady

The first manual on barrier-free design in Ukraine publications and ready to use. It is designed to help make cities convenient for everyone.

 

"We are all different, and we should all be equally comfortable"

Team of urban bureau Big City Lab posted The barrier-free solutions album is a practical guide for architects that illustrates with examples how the urban environment can be friendly to different users. The authors take into account the needs of different people: in particular, people with health disorders or injuries, adults with small children, the elderly or people with disabilities, and other groups of the population with limited mobility. The first lady Olena Zelenska presented the album during a dialogue with architectural students and the professional community.

Album's development team at the first lady's meeting with architectural students

"Ukrainian cities should become friendly to their heroes. Our team has researched the main accessibility issues of cities and compiled recommendations for solving them. Presenting the Album of barrier-free solutions, we share these tips with everyone who cares about the level of quality of implementation of public spaces.

After all, accessibility during war is also a matter of security, creation of conditions for those fleeing war, and rehabilitation of those returning from the war zone. Injuries received by our citizens both at the front and in the rear can lead to permanent or temporary reduced mobility. They all deserve a peaceful life in their city, which should be accessible and comfortable for them. Cities should welcome everyone, not become obstacles on their way", says Victoria Titova, CEO of Big City Lab.

First Lady Olena Zelenska at the presentation of the Barrier-Free Solutions Album

Urban bureau Big City Lab explains the logic of barrier-free solutions

Manual adapted to wartime and added recommendations that take into account safety needs: there is advice on escape doors, light-masking and equipment for hospitals and headquarters, installation of emergency ceilings, places for community gathering during power or gas outages, sensory relief rooms for those who has sensitivity to light and sounds, arrangement of shelters for IDPs and answers to other relevant topics.

Illustration: Accessible Solutions Album, Chapter 1: Porches and Backyards

 

This manual is the first in Ukraine. What is its uniqueness?

The album not only presents solutions with diagrams and measurements for design, but it explains in simple words what nuances need to be taken into account for different people and how to adapt the space for them. After all, designers need to understand human diversity in order to create a truly comfortable space. To gather this information, the team consulted with many specialized specialists, scientists and representatives of the less mobile population groups. 

The album is being compiled from recommendations for porches and yards, streets, public spaces and public buildings

The album consists of four sections with recommendations for porches and yards, streets, public spaces, and public buildings. Using the values ​​of universal design, the authors have collected in the manual universal - the best solutions for new construction, adaptive - for impossibility to do perfectly, and barrier - dangerous solutions with real examples of Kyiv locations.

Read and download the album you can follow the link.

 

The album of barrier-free solutions is created within the framework of the first lady Olena Zelenska's initiative "Without barriers". The project is implemented by the public organization Bezbarniernost together with the Ministry of Regions within the framework of the project "Integrated development of cities in Ukraine II", which is implemented by the German government company "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH" with funding from the Governments of Germany and Switzerland. The developer of the Album of barrier-free solutions is the urban bureau Big City Lab.

 

 

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