Transcript Creating disability-inclusive services and public places in a local

Creating Inclusive Universally Designed Spaces
Sharon O’Grady MRIAI
Senior Executive Architect
South Dublin County Council
Inclusive, Universally Designed
Spaces
• Disability Act 2005 defines Universal Design as:
- the design and composition of an environment that can be
accessed, understood and used by all people, regardless of
their age, size or disability.
• The environment is defined as:
- public places in the built environment such as buildings, streets
or spaces that the public have access to
- products and services provided in those places
- systems that are available including information and
communications technology
Commitment to Universal Design
• Senior Management South Dublin County Council (SDCC) fully
committed to the principles of Universal Design
• The Housing Social and Community Development and the
Architectural Services embrace these principles
• Examples of inclusive universally designed spaces:
- Award winning Valhalla Housing Initiative, Clondalkin
- Rua Red Arts Centre, Tallaght
- Clondalkin Leisure Centre
• Focus on how we developed the Valhalla Housing Project.
Valhalla Housing Development
Valhalla Housing Project
Objectives
To achieve best practice in:
• Providing universally designed and lifetime homes.
•
Delivering high-quality design successfully integrating principles of
sustainability and social integration
•
Providing a template for an integrated approach to universally designed
housing within the broader community
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Providing a pilot project within the county in the provision of
sustainable/passive apartment dwellings
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Building these homes with minimal impact on resources and energy
during construction and in use during their lifetime
•
Optimising brownfield site and land in general as a valuable and finite
resource.
Valhalla Housing Project
Challenges
• To create a living environment that supports people with
physical disabilities to live independent and fulfilling lives in the
community.
• To create a secure place with all the pleasures of Home
• To harness new technologies and access systems
• To build these homes with minimal impact on resources and
energy during construction and in use during their lifetime
Partnership Approach
•
Partnership key to resolving challenges and project success
•
SDCC partnered with Clanmil Ireland and Cheshire Ireland to develop
Valhalla
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Clanmil Ireland - registered housing association and member of the
Irish Council for Social Housing.
•
Cheshire Ireland provides a range of support services to people with
both physical and neurological conditions in their homes, in residential
centres, in supported accommodation and in stand alone respite
facilities.
•
SDCC provided the site, design team and project management through
the building process
•
Clanmil Ireland and Cheshire Ireland provided the expertise for
developing universally designed housing
Partnership Approach
•
SDCC design team engaged with its Disability Advisory Consultative
Panel
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Cheshire Ireland and Clanmil provided SDCC design team with links to
prospective tenants
•
Consulted with prospective tenants with disabilities and occupational
therapists through out the process
•
Used Irish Wheelchair Association draft “Design Guidelines for
Wheelchair Accessible Housing Units”
•
The Habinteg guidelines to ‘Lifetime Homes
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The housing units are designed to the Department of Environment’s
‘Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities’ standards”
•
These standards have been modified to meet the accessibility needs of
tenants.
An Inclusive Universally Designed Space
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The building is level access throughout with both stairs and lift access
to the first floor apartments and roof garden.
•
Automated doors at the building’s entrance. Front doors to the ground
floor apartments are also automated.
•
Security is enhanced by large open office windows, video intercom, and
secure automated gate to the parking area.
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Apartments rooms are large and the layout is adaptable.
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Kitchen worktops, sink and hob units are height adjustable.
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Bathrooms are fully wheelchair accessible
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Large ‘rocker’ type light switches, double sockets with safety switches
to the outside (for ease of use by person with arthritis).
•
T-Bar and/or elliptical shaped door handles throughout.
Valhalla Housing Development
Tenant Involvement
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Tenants very involved in managing the Valhalla Project
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Annual meeting with tenants to keep service charges to a minimum.
•
Pre-tenancy ‘getting to know you’ training session includes a module
for carers where relevant
•
Training provided by Clanmil Ireland in partnership with the design
team and installation specialists.
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Tenants involved in keeping landscaping and tree-planting in place.
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Each apartment has a raised planting bed, where tenants growing
vegetables and herbs
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Commitment to successful ecological apartment living
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Tenant meetings are aimed at improving the carbon footprint,
monitoring energy consumption, food and waste generation
Positive Outcomes
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Partnership approach is key to mainstreaming accessibility, inclusion
and universal design principles in a sustainable model.
•
Interest in the project process, design and outcome by other Housing
associations and Councils.
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Overall Winner of the 2015 ICSH Allianz Community Housing Awards
announced at ICSH biennial conference in September
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Won the award for Housing for People with Disabilities.
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Praised by judging panel as:
“An exemplar architectural, social and sustainable design for the
provision of housing for people with disabilities……”
Thank you