Accessibility Win!

[xenakis]

Because they exist, too!

As an architectural intern, I have to deal with issues of accessibility and universal design all the time. That means to be concerned not only with the minimum dimensions required by the building code (yeah, how'd you guys like them 1:12 ramps? pff!) but to think about the wider issues of location of accessible entrances, barrier-free routes, legibility of signage, etc. It's pretty hard and frustrating sometimes, but I try to see the ADA regulations as opportunities for innovative design. One pretty wicked example of this is the stair/ramp designed by Cornelia Oberlander and Arthur Erikson in Robson Square, Vancouver:




The "Stramp", as we call it, pretty much embodies the idea of universal design: to make one feature accessible to everyone. You wouldn't know it looking at the amount of fail you encounter in buildings, but we are actually taught these things in school (ok, it was an elective, and three of us took it, which is probably one of the reasons for the failfest...) Architects are usually pretty on board with coming up with solutions like this - none of us want the ugly lifts or endless ramps to mess up our beautiful facades - but it is often quite hard to convince clients or city officials to spend extra money or "waste" space on integrated design... What they need to understand is that people with disabilities are not the only ones helped by these changes: parents with strollers, elderly men and women, people who just want to take the scenic route up the building, everyone benefits from them.

Comments

[dreamatdrew]

Pretty....... me like

[vass]

That is one sweet stair/ramp.

[aliceblue]

people who just want to take the scenic route up the building, everyone benefits from them.

So very true! Our local library is on a somewhat steep hill, so they added a far more accessible ramp that winds around in front of the building. All the little kids adore it. They get to go the long fun way, while their parents walk up the boring adult way.

(Also, that stair/ramp is amazing.)

[jnala]

That's an awesome idea, but... I can't help thinking that it looks *really* precarious for a chair user. Go slightly off course and you take a huge tumble. Honestly it looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen, especially if it's the only ramp provided.

Those of you who actually use chairs or work closely with chair users, am I being overly paranoid here?

[pauamma]

I had a kinda-related thought. I don't know how lines of sight are there, but there are no passing areas that I can see (unless the landings qualify?), so I'm not sure how 2 chair/scooter/etc users, one going down and the other up, would deal with it without one having to turn around.

[xenakis]

The landings do qualify as passing areas, yeah. The ramp is also wider than is usually required, so two wheelchairs/strollers could probably cross each other between landings.

[xenakis]

It's true that the lack of handrail makes it look a bit dangerous, but as it is a landscape element and not an actual access to a building, it's actually allowed. Furthermore, even though it's hard to see on the photograph, I'm pretty sure there is a slight reveal around the ramp, so that you can't just slide onto the steps. We try!

[sasha_feather]

Your caveat about it being a landscape element rather than access to a building is important-- because there is no handrail on the ramp. Some people use ramps for walking and need the handrail.

It's very pretty, though! And I love the idea of it. Thanks for posting it.

[vito_excalibur]

That is so FREAKING cool. Thanks for posting!

[lacey]

Wow. That's wonderful.

[jesse_the_k]

That just put a big old grin on my face! Thanks.

Any other cool things you and the other two learned in that class?

[xenakis]

Well, let's see...

There was This Is Not the Barrier Free Path You're Looking For (aka it don't matter if the walls of your bathroom are plastered with grab bars if the door is two inches narrower than a standard wheelchair). Then there was Why It's Not a Good Idea to Stick your Ramp on the Random Back Door Nobody Uses (aka if the guy in the wheelchair is the only one needing that door, chances are there'll be 5 feet of snow on top of that ramp in January. oops) And also Try To Roll in my Wheels for a While (aka you never knew your university campus was so freaking *hilly* until they asked you to climb across it by the strength of your arms)

All things considered, it was pretty educational ;)

[ashi]

Wow, love it. Wish I saw more solutions like this around. Thanks for posting!