Art Gallery of Ontario accessibility fail

[firecat]

http://sabotabby.livejournal.com/643833.html

Comments

[jadey]

I sent a comment to AGO mentioning the issues raised in this post and stating that I was not interested in attending or recommending any of its exhibits while its accessibility-unfriendly design remains. For once I live close enough to feel like I can do something!

I also turned this up while Googling; an article about an architect whose own acquired mobility impairment has become an inspiration to his design. The Re-Education of Michael Graves. FWIW, the reporter is also mobility-impaired. Seems like nothing ever gets done until people can do it for themselves, but it's so hard to get the chance. :(

[jesse_the_k]

So sad, too true. I've never heard architects whining about fenestration requirements (how much light a building needs) or fire safety constraints (placement of plumbing vents and noncombustible wallboard) but somehow artistes like Gehry think it's acceptable to dismiss access concerns in their designs. He's done plenty of stuff in the USA for Disney, who is generally a very good corporate citizen when it comes to accessible design, so he can't claim he doesn't know how.