Speaker
Description
Universal Design is focusing on the seven principles addressed by Story, Mueller and Mace (1998) in North Carolina State University Center for Universal Design, for enhancement of inclusivity for various fields and scopes of design. Some of those principles are; principles of perceptible information, simple and intuitive use and size and space for approach and use, especially need enhancements that are aimed to be visibly highly noticeable, can be used intuitively or self-directing the audience for the utilization. To achieve these, some interventions are generally made through physical space for added visibility and attention. In many scenarios those interventions for inclusive design are taken as part of the design process and creatively reflected as a part of the public space eventually. However, when it comes to historic or urban heritage sites the visual unity and coherence of the heritage value comes from this unique nature of the heritage landscape itself; therefore potentially the addition of highly visible indicators or cues for universal design might be contradicting with the idea of the nature of interventions for these areas. The core tension of this study is focusing on the question of conflicting nature between inclusive urban design applications and interventions and the conservation purposes of the World Heritage Site where the minimum intervention especially the interventions resulting in the alterations of the landscape of the site and the overall visual perception of the site and/or its outstanding universal value. Focusing on this conflict, this study aims to find possible answers to the questions of “is it possible to apply universal design principles of urban design projects of public spaces in Urban Conservation Areas?” and if so “How to enhance the visual perception of the inclusive design indicators for a public space with an urban heritage value; especially for the World Heritage Sites without causing disturbance on the value of the site?”. While maintaining the main emphasis on universal design principles, how site-specific urban design solutions can apply and how they will be perceived by the users of public space is the scope of this research. Methodology of the research is consisting of two parts; first, in depth interviews with users of public spaces located in World Heritage Site of Istanbul Historic Peninsula will be conducted and second a survey with over-100 participants will take place; investigating the responses of the participants on the scenic depictions of World Heritage Site and Public Spaces and Landscapes within case study area, including variations of universal design applications. Results aim to discuss and find out the possible parameters for universal design tools specifically of heritage sites.
References
Story, F.S., Mueller, J.L. and Mace R.L.. 1998. The Universal Design File: Designing for People of all ages and abilities. North Carolina State University.
| Keywords | Inclusivity; Public Space; World Heritage Sites; Accessibility; Universal Design |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
