Rating the Universal Design of Built Space: a User Focused Approach to Evaluation

1. Rating the Universal Design of Built Space: a User Focused Approach to Evaluation Introduction to the Doctorate Research In most human activities and social situations, built spaces are central actors fundamental to successful social participation. Universal design theory recognises how vital it is to privilege not only access, but also use and understanding of built space for the whole population. Historical conceptions of average age, sex, ability, and gender used in the profiling of people who use buildings must be expanded to consider a much wider, aggregated user-base. Eoghan Conor O Shea, TrinityHaus, Trinity College Dublin Supervisors: Dr. Sara Pavia, TCD; Professor Mark Dyer, TCD. UNIVERSAL DESIGN BUILT SPACE ACCESSIBILITY USABILITY UNDERSTANDABILITY Objectives An evaluation system for rating the universal design of built spaces will help promote the benefits of carefully contrived environments that respond directly to evidence-based conceptions of human need. Understanding of the benefits of universal design will promote use both by architects and other design professionals, and through pressure from a more informed public. SPACE LEGIBILITY WAYFINDING SPATIAL CONNECTION NORMS STANDARDS USER EVALU. ACTIVITY BASE The tool will be calibrated with a scoring system generated through the use of questionnaires, interviews with key stakeholders , and case-study buildings with user-led and heuristic walk-throughs. Methods By breaking universal design into three discrete constituents – access, use and understandability/legibility – the instrument for evaluation will build on theory and existing methodology from gerontology and occupational therapy (Iwarsson, Gitlin, Wahl) environmental psychology (Lawton, Lewin) ecological psychology (Gibson) and architecture (Danford, Steinfeld, Sanford, Hillier, Tversky) to generate a composite tool that can deliver an holistic evaluation based on user experience. Results Primary outcome: A workable tool for rating built spaces in an Irish context. The context will include parallel research into standards and regulation to demonstrate how the rating system can be rolled out and applied. Acknowledgements Funding Partners: National Disability Authority &IRCSET Project Mentors : Neil Murphy, CEUD/NDA & Dr. Ger Craddock, CEUD/NDA