Urbanism Enabled

A Compilation of Considerations that Enable Disabled People within the Urban Environment

Synopsis:

 

To explore the diversity and nature of abilities of the population that fall within ‘disabled persons’

category of society, and how more considerate urban design can accommodate in providing equal

opportunities in experiencing developed urban environments.

 

The study will aim to look at majority of existing technologies and facilities that supplement means

of access and communication for disabled people within urban environments, from within

buildings to the spaces between them. The design stage will begin to further develop and apply

the functions, and place them into the chosen site from the detailed design stage, Beckton,

producing scenarios for an urban design proposal within the context of London.

 

The study will also look at the social attitudes and conceptions towards disabled people within

urban design, the application of assisting functions, and how these can be developed to create

communities and a culture more intellectual and confident in the awareness of disabled people.

 

Sustainability within technologies and through peoples operation will be an underlying criterion

both through the research and development stages.

 

The Summary & Objectives could be Structured as follows:

 

·         Research on operations and features offered within urban developments that are placed to assist

the requirements of disabled people

·         Explore the diversity in abilities of disabled people, the social attitudes and conceptions and,

through experimentation and design development, begin to develop and place the functions into

an urban setting.

·         Apply the concept within the context of Beckton, from detailed design stage, and propose an urban design concept for the area.

 

Methodology:

 

·         Research stages – urban design textbooks, disabled people and urbanism studies, exploring

products market for urban environment

·         Develop detailed design of Beckton with application of newly researched technologies and

functions from report stage

·         Design proposal and report

 

Contents of the Design Report:

 

·         Concept design for new disabled access features and methods

·         Incorporation of developed concepts within a working urban design proposal

(Representations made mainly through 3D models, plans, sections, renders & physical models with the intention to explore new and emerging methods of representation)

 

Contents of Written Report:

 

·         Research data from studies – graphs, tables, experimental results

·         Narrative and description of design proposal

(Mainly communicated in standard report format)

 

Current Relevant References:

 

Books:

Carmona & Tiesdel, Urban Design Reader, Architectural Press, 2007

Blanciak, Francois, Siteless, MIT Press, 2008

Mitchell, William, The Cyborg Self and the Networked City, MIT Press, 2003

Canniffe, Eamonn, Urban Ethic, Design in the Contemoporary City, Routledge, 2006

Thomas, Derek, Architecture and the Urban Environment, A Vision for the New Age, Architectural Press, 2002

Haas, Tigran, New Urbanism and Beyond, Designing Cities for the Future, Rizzoli International Publications, 2008

Jonas, Drivers, Planning and Access for Disabled People, A Good Practise Guide, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Publications, 2003

Bossellmann, Peter, A Representation of Places, Reality and Realism in City Design, University of California, 1998

 

WEB & Journals:

CABE, Creating Successful Masterplans, 2004

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, DPTAC

Disability and Society Journal, Routledge, Vol

Resource for Urban Design Information, RUDI

Urban Design Group, UDG