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Dissertation On Architecture For Blind and Visually Impaired
Dissertation On Architecture For Blind and Visually Impaired
IMPAIRED PEOPLE
SYNOPSIS
AIM
The aim of this report is to study and explore the accessibility of blind and visually impaired
people to public and private spaces and how designers can address all the senses through the
use of architectural design in order to enable a visually impaired person to accurately
comprehend their environment and gain comfort from it.
OBJECTIVE
Perception of architecture for the blind and how other senses contribute to it.
To study how a built environment can be made more accessible and hospitable to the blind.
SCOPE
LIMITATION
I will be limiting my research to
public and private buildings and
their movement through its site
surroundings.
METHODOLOGY
UNDERSTANDING THE
VISUALLY IMPAIRED
STATISTICS
8% 6%
10%
SEEING
MOVEMENT
28%
48%
MENTAL
SPEECH
HEARING
Visual acuity
Measurement standards
Eye care specialist measure vision according to 2 main standards:
Snellen chart
HUMAN SENSES
AND ARCHITECTURE
Sight
Colour
Touch
Lighting
Avoid glare and reflection
Place light sources in locations to avoid creating
shadows
Distribute light levels throughout different spaces
Include task and spot lighting
Use of dimmer switches
Texture
Sound
Legibility
Volume
Smell
Sensory garden
GENERAL
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
LITERATURE
CASE STUDIES
Spatial Organisation
A clear linear circulation layout links all rooms and spaces. Important orientation clues are given in places
to draw attention to specific changes.
Floor texture changes at this point, aiding blind persons
to identify the area.
Projecting eaves and external fixed louvers reduce glare
and a window seat creates a place of identity.
The arrangement of public and
private facilities, provides an
uncomplicated arrangement where
changes in level do not present an
additional hindrance for visually impaired
users.
Summary
In many buildings of this nature aural
design is scarcely considered but in this
study acoustic design was approached
with creativity resulting in a building that
communicates to the visually impaired
users.
Concept
The W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind comprises several
buildings dedicated to the education of over 200 visually impaired children.
The concept employed involved the use of the single-spine plan where all
functions branch off one single circulation route. This layout is simple to
follow and easily memorised by visually impaired users. The architects
explored navigation through touch where guiding textures feature both on
the walls and underfoot to aid orientation.
Summary
Navigation through
texture
Lighting
LIVE
CASE STUDIES
SITE PLAN
Four independent buildings:
Research block
Hostel block
Multi purpose block
Administration block
Free flow textured pathway connecting all blocks
Materials used for construction of buildings:
Mud, bamboo, thatch roof; jalli work with glass blocks
Sustainable construction - local mud bricks used for structures
Other facilities: Play area, OAT, boat jetty, outdoor gathering place powered
by solar panels
Grey water treatment and rain water harvesting
Future plan: Power irrigation by using solar panels
Hostel Block
Research Block
Inference
Inference
Entrances
A tactile indicator placed in front of the door can also complement the auditory cues.
Consider door closers to ensure doors are not left open in circulation areas
Hinged doors should open inwards from busier areas like foyers to quieter areas
Landscape
Proper design of pathways without any hindrances or protruding surfaces on the ground
In landscaping selection for plants should be made which enhances olfactory and aural legibility
Inference
Stairways and ramps
Stairways should be easy to find and placed preferably perpendicular or at the side to the path
of travel
Stair area should be well lit
Apply slip resistant contrasting strips to the tread at the nosing of each step
Handrails should be provided on either sides and should extend well beyond the bottom and top
step
Avoid open risers and nosing with lipped edges
Signage
Location of sign should be part of the process of planning the building
Should be well lit
Sign board should contrast with the background
Signs should be simple, short, consistent and easily understood using prescribed typefaces,
colour and graphic devices
Tactile models, maps can be a useful navigational tool
Usage of braille
Inference
Colour scheme
Neutral colour scheme is preferred to warm colours
Contrasting colours should be used to demarcate a particular space which helps in orientation like
nosing of stairs, frames of doors, etc.
Lighting
Brighter lighting can be used at main entrances
Adopt lighting which is glare free
Position of light fixtures should be properly designed
Over-head lighting should be recessed
Diffused natural light (eg: use of vertical blinds, window tinting,etc.)
Acoustics
Avoid intrusive levels of background noise which can make interactions with other sound and make
orientation difficult for the users.
In general terms, architecture should be holistic and barrier free so that it is friendly
enough to meet daily needs of humanity - with differently abled people and the so
called normal people.