Innovative accessibility is an opportunity to elevate public space
Accessibility in public spaces should be seen as an opportunity for innovation rather than just a compliance requirement, says Shay Erlich, the Founder of Ready for Access in an interview with MassivArt. Erlich’s work has helped organisations rethink accessibility to help those living with disability to fully engage with and take ownership of public spaces.
Erlich argues that the emphasis should be on creative placemaking, where public spaces are not only visually engaging but also fully accessible. Accessibility should be thought through from the beginning, ensuring plans incorporate diverse experiences.
In the interview Erlich shares examples of innovations in accessibility, such as using creative approaches in the arts and leveraging VR technology to make cultural experiences more inclusive. In the long-term, accessibility requires ongoing commitment – maintaining accessible public bathrooms and ensuring that spaces remain functional beyond the initial design phase. With continued oversight and collaboration with the disability community accessibility efforts can succeed.
Ready for Access provide training, consultation, and co-design services to help organisations create inclusive environments.
Image: A public square where children engage with water fountains. Credit: Robert Barlea for AMAIS, 2022 – Empathy Retreat
Project for Public Spaces: State of Public Space survey
Project for Public Spaces (PPS), founded in 1975, has worked for decades to help communities improve public spaces through education, planning, and advocacy. To mark its 50th anniversary, PPS conducted a global State of Public Space Survey with more than 700 public space professionals, to identify current challenges and opportunities in public space development.
Results highlighted the potential of public spaces to address societal issues like healthcare and disaster relief. They also emphasise the need for better funding and management strategies.
PPS identify seven key areas that need renewed focus: aging infrastructure; bureaucracy; homelessness; access; social isolation; climate change; disinvestment and gentrification
As part of the State of Public Spaces Survey, respondents highlighted 375 inspiring public spaces and placemaking projects worldwide, showcasing the impact of well-designed public areas. These examples reaffirm the vital role of public spaces and the dedication of those working to enhance them.
Image: People celebrate a birthday party on the planted median of the 34th Avenue Open Street.Credit: Elena Madison, courtesy Project for Public Space.
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Linea Bin is the newest addition to Street Furniture Australia’s minimalist Linea range. Built from stainless steel for strength, durability and a refined aesthetic, it has been thoughtfully designed with input from landscape architects and waste managers to deliver hygiene, accessibility and sustainability in the public realm. Built to LastA robust stainless steel frame and panel system ensures Linea Bin performs in high-traffic environments. A full-height stainless steel 316 piano hinge and splash tray provide exceptional strength, hygiene and corrosion resistance, withstanding daily impacts from trolleys and cleaning equipment. “Durability was paramount,” says Pearson Bulmer, Senior Industrial Designer at Street Furniture Australia. “Every detail needed to perform in the public realm for years to come – but also be designed for disassembly so parts can be repaired, replaced or recycled …
With the look and feel of natural timber, backed by 12 months of performance testing for the public realm, engineered wood joins Street Furniture Australia’s selection of batten materials. Designers and place custodians can now choose from three batten options to achieve a timber look: natural Spotted Gum hardwood, low maintenance aluminium Wood Without Worry, and engineered wood known as Onewood HRT. See our Engineered Wood: Onewood HRT brochure or book a presentation. What is engineered wood?Onewood HRT (Homogeneous Reconstituted Timber) is a solid engineered timber, made from fast-growing FSC certified poplar and eucalyptus fibres that are compressed under heat and pressure with a resin binder. It is solid throughout with an organic grain and, like real hardwood, can be sanded to refresh. Street Furniture Australia partners with a Singapore-based …
How climate change is affecting seed dormancy and therefore the regeneration of forests. Also Gensler report on opportunities and challenges for cities.
How do we design effective therapeutic gardens for hospital care? And Wallpaper takes a tour of Belgium's new Marche Arboretum, a new plant 'museum' many years in the making.
