Exploring Universal Design Principles in the Built Environment
An Empirical Review
Main Article Content
Abstract
Universal Design (UD) involves surpassing basic standards and legal requirements to create buildings that are accessible and usable by people of all abilities. The goal of universal design and inclusion strategy is to accommodate as many individuals as possible, irrespective of their age, gender, physical characteristics, cultural background, talents, or disabilities. This study aimed to conduct an empirical review of existing literature about Universal Design in the built environment. The methodology employed for this study was a systematic literature review. A systematic literature review (SLR) involves the identification, selection, and critical evaluation of research to address a clearly defined question. Seven articles were reviewed and analysed in a tabular form. This review of literature on universal design in the built environment revealed widespread deficiencies in accessibility measures. While awareness exists, implementation is inconsistent. Improving compliance requires rigorous enforcement of regulations, integrating Universal Design into architectural education, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Ongoing research and initiatives are essential to create truly accessible and inclusive environments for all.
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2024 Mosopefoluwa Olodeoku, Aishat Alokun, Prof. Oluwole Alagbe, Justice Egwabor, Josephine Buseri (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Al Hindwan, I. A., & Erçin, Ç. (2023). Assessment of Design Principles in the Residential Buildings for Disabled Persons: A Case Study of Social Housing in Northern Cyprus. Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment, 16(4), 15–32. https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2023-0047
Babatunde, O., Taiye, A., Olabode, O., & Ifeoluwa, A. (2022). (PDF) A Study of Universal Design Strategies in Selected Public Buildings in Lagos State. 6(4), 2–7. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364553784_A_Study_of_Universal_Design_Strategies_in_Selected_Public_Buildings_in_Lagos_State
Centre for Excellence in Universal Design. (2024). The 7 Principles - Centre for Excellence in Universal Design. https://universaldesign.ie/about-universal-design/the-7-principles
Christopherson, R. (2022, October 4). The 7 principles of universal design | AbilityNet. https://abilitynet.org.uk/news-blogs/7-principles-universal-design
Cushley, L., Galway, N., & Peto, T. (2023). The unseen barriers of the built environment: navigation for people with visual impairment. Town Planning Review, 94(1), 11–35. https://doi.org/10.3828/TPR.2022.4
Froyen, H. (2023). Universal Design Patterns for enabling physical environments. Making Inclusive Higher Education a Reality, 164–173. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253631-24
Guidry-Grimes, L., Savin, K., Stramondo, J. A., Reynolds, J. M., Tsaplina, M., Burke, T. B., Ballantyne, A., Kittay, E. F., Stahl, D., Scully, J. L., Garland-Thomson, R., Tarzian, A., Dorfman, D., & Fins, J. J. (2020). Disability Rights as a Necessary Framework for Crisis Standards of Care and the Future of Health Care. Hastings Center Report, 50(3), 28–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/hast.1128
Iamtrakul, P., & Chayphong, S. (2024). Analyzing the link between built environment and physical activity: a spatial study in suburban area. Frontiers in Built Environment, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/FBUIL.2024.1420020
Ibem, E. O., Oni, O. O., Umoren, E., & Ejiga, J. (2017). An appraisal of universal design compliance of museum buildings in Southwest Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 12(23), 13731–13741.
Kovac, L. (2023, October 30). Simple and Intuitive Use. https://aoda.ca/simple-and-intuitive-use/
Latpate, R., Kshirsagar, J., Kumar Gupta, V., & Chandra, G. (2021). Simple Random Sampling. Advanced Sampling Methods, 11–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0622-9_2
Levinson, D., & Wu, H. (2024). Access, the built environment, and behavior. Handbook of Travel Behaviour, 256–278. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839105746.00022
Lid, I. M. (2023). The Particular and the Universal. Reflections on Knowledge Production, Human Diversity and Human Rights in Universal Design. 303, 53–58. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI230399
MacDonald, D. H. (2024). Exploring the Accessibility Knowledge of Professional Planners. https://doi.org/10.32920/25417426
Maisel, J., & Steinfeld, E. (2022). Universal design and the built environment. Rehabilitation Engineering: Principles and Practice, 295–318. https://doi.org/10.1201/B21964-16
Mosca, E. I., & Capolongo, S. (2020). Universal Design-Based Framework to Assess Usability and Inclusion of Buildings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Including Subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 12253 LNCS, 316–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58814-4_22/COVER
Müller, L. (2023). Who Are We Building for? Tracing Universal Design in Urban Development. Design for Inclusion: Dialogues on Universal Design: Theory, Ethics and Practice, 303, 3–9. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI230392
Pedersen, M. R. L., Bredahl, T. V. G., Elmose-Østerlund, K., & Hansen, A. F. (2022). Motives and Barriers Related to Physical Activity within Different Types of Built Environments: Implications for Health Promotion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9000–9000. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH19159000
Phaholthep, C., Sawadsri, A., & Bunyasakseri, T. (2017). Evidence-Based Research on Barriers and Physical Limitations in Hospital Public Zones Regarding the Universal Design Approach. Asian Social Science, 13(4), 133. https://doi.org/10.5539/ASS.V13N4P133
Radogna, D., & Kalhofer, G. (2022). Environmental and technological flexibility for new housing needs. Vitruvio, 7(1), 30–45. https://doi.org/10.4995/VITRUVIO-IJATS.2022.17461
Seetharaman, K., Mahmood, A., Rikhtehgaran, F., Akbarnejad, G., Chishtie, F., Prescott, M., Chung, A., & Mortenson, W. Ben. (2024). Influence of the built environment on community mobility of people living with visual disabilities: a scoping review. Urban, Planning and Transport Research, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21650020.2023.2296891
Shkliar, S., & Shushliakova, O. (2023). Universal design as the basis of forming an accessible architectural environment of modern cities. Містобудування Та Територіальне Планування, 82, 350–363. https://doi.org/10.32347/2076-815X.2023.82.350-363
Sholanke, A. B., Adelowo, I. E., & Gbotosho, J. O. (2020). Compliance of high-rise buildings vertical accessibility components with universal design strategies: A case study of Covenant university, Ota, Nigeria. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 8(5), 735–749. https://doi.org/10.13189/cea.2020.080501
Singh, R., & Bohora, L. (2023). The Universal Accessibility Provisions in Educational Institutes of New Delhi, India. Qeios, 0–2. https://doi.org/10.32388/bye0a8.2
Topcu, M., & Tutal, O. (2018). Thinking With Universal Design in Historical Environment. Iconarp International J. of Architecture and Planning, 6(Special Issue), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.15320/ICONARP.2018.49
University at Buffalo. (2024). Universal Design Principles - Accessibility at UB - University at Buffalo. https://www.buffalo.edu/access/help-and-support/topic3/universaldesignprinciples.html
Watchorn, V., Hitch, D., Tucker, R., Frawley, P., Aedy, K., & Grant, C. (2022). Evaluating universal design of built environments: an empirical study of stakeholder practice and perceptions. Journal of Housing and The Built Environment, 38(3), 1491–1510. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10901-022-09981-X
Yakob, H., Mazlan, S. A., Abdullah, Y. A., & Nasrudin, N. (2022). Qualitative Assessment of Usability and Accessibility of Housing Design Elements for Disabled People. Planning Malaysia, 20(4), 374–388. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v20i23.1173
Yilmaz, G. (2024a, January 20). Equitable Use: Inclusive Design - Universal Design Principle Series - 1 / Blogs / Perficient. https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/01/20/1-equitable-use-universal-design-principle-series/
Yilmaz, G. (2024b, February 1). Size and Space for Approach and Use: Designing for Diversity-Universal Design Principle Series-7 / Blogs / Perficient. https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/02/01/size-and-space-for-approach-and-use-designing-for-diversity-universal-design-principle-series-7-2/
Article Sidebar
