CO-CREATING

INCLUSIVE PUBLIC
SPACES: ENGAGING
UNDERREPRESENTED
AND MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES IN THE
PLANNING PROCESS
Marina Lovrić,
Geodetic Institute of Slovenia

RealCORP 2023
19th September 2023
 1.3 BILLION PEOPLE
(16%) of the global population – have disability

According to statistics provided by World Health Organization

(WHO. Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities, 2022)

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 The term FUNCTIONALLY DISABLED PERSON
is broad and can include:

Persons with Elderly Pregnant women Yo u n g c h i l d r e n Anyone who is

disabilities​ permanently or
temporarily
handicapped in
some way

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 For all people, independent movement and mobility are essential. A
INDEPENDEN requirement for ensuring the independent movement of persons

CE with disabilities and their integration into society is the physical

accessibility of urban areas and buildings.

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 Design for all

Inclusive
Barrier-free design Prostor za vse
design (1960s)/ (Space for all)
Universal design
(1970s)

*ISO Standard:
Accessible design

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EXPLORING
ACCESSIBILITY
IN
ARCHITECTURE
Reviews of academic research
 An accessible physical environment has a
significant impact on the accessibility of
public spaces for persons with disabilities, and
enables a change in the social environment,
particularly in terms of society's behaviour and
attitudes towards persons with disabilities .

B u t l e r, R . a n d B o wl b y , S . ( 1 9 9 7 ) . B o d i e s a n d S p a c e s : A n E x p l o r a t i o n o f D i s a b l e d

P e o p l e ’s E x p e r i e n c e s o f P u b l i c S p a c e . I n : E n v i ro n m e n t a n d P l a n n i n g D : S o c i e ty

and Space.

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 Accessibility is more than a question of access
or logistics, it is also about the quality of the
experience. How one feels in a space, how one
interprets it, or even whether one can interpret
it adequately - these are all less quantifiable
but crucially important aspects of accessibility .

D a v i s , C. a n d L i f c h e z , R . ( 1 9 8 7 ) . A n O p e n l e t t e r t o A rc h i t ec t s . v L if c h e z , R . ( 1 9 8 7 )

R e t h i n k i n g A rc h i t e c t u re : D e s i g n S t u d e n t s a n d P h y s i c a l ly D i s a b l e d P e o p l e .

U n i v e r s i t y o f Ca li f o r n i a P re s s . U S A .

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 Research shows that architects often stereotype
disabled individuals as wheelchair users only,
without considering the needs of persons with
cognitive or sensory impairments.

I m r i e , R . a n d H a l l , P. ( 2 0 0 1 ) . I n c l u s i v e D e s i g n : D e s i g n i n g a n d D e v e l o p i n g

A c c e s s i b l e E n v i ro n m en ts . U S A .

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 User participation in architectural practice is
often treated as an add-on, similar to how
disability is considered an add-on to "normal"
architecture.

B o y s , J . ( 2 0 1 4 ) . D o i n g D i s a b i l i ty D i f f ere n t l y : A n a l t e r n a t i v e h a n d b o o k o n

a rc h i t e c t u re , d i s / a b i l i t y a n d d e s i g n i n g f o r e v e r y d a y l i f e . U S A .

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 The challenge for contemporary architecture in
designing spaces for persons with disabilities
lies in designing buildings and built
environments that do not simply meet the
requirements of regulations. Such design
requires creative thinking and a change in
perspective, which will ultimately offer
progressive and thoughtful solutions.

P h o t o o n t h e r i g h t : Ma i s o n B o rd e a u x b y R e m Ko o l h a a s

s o u rce : H a n s We r l e m a n n , O MA

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 Main entrance

Accessible entrance

Main entrance Acccessible entrance

Accessible entrance

Main entrance

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Main entrance Acccessible entrance
 It is important to recognize that inclusive
solutions benefit a much larger community
than just those believed to be 'minority'.
Designing accessible ramps and entrances not
only improves mobility for people with
impairments, but also helps the elderly, parents
with strollers, and anybody with temporary
ailments or mobility issues.

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 CONCLUSION

• Co-creation and participation are essential components in establishing accessible and inclusive public spaces for
individuals with disabilities.

• It is becoming more evident that the experience of space for persons with disabilities is desirable but often
undervalued. Despite its importance, it is not fully acknowledged as an essential and valuable aspect of the
architectural design process.

• Architecture, as a direct and unavoidable medium, carries the responsibility for social relevance and plays a vital
role in creating an inclusive society.

• Using the interdisciplinary approach, architects may create environments that promote emotional and sensory
stimulation for all persons, going beyond simply physical accessibility.

• Recognising the significance of inclusive design and actively including specialists and persons with disabilities in the
design process can lead to places that are not just physically accessible but also emotionally and sensory
stimulating.

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„The architect as visionary must remind
others that architecture reflects society's
relationship to itself, that creating an
environment is a dynamic process, and
that architecture must express society's
highest aspirations and ideals .“
D a v i s , C . a n d L i f c h e z , R . ( 1 9 8 7 ) . A n o p e n l e t t e r t o a rc h i t e c t s

Marina Lovrić​​
marina.lovric@gis.si​