An i nclusive a pproach

An inclusively designed and managed building or space will allow everyone to maximise their own individual abilities and enjoy full, equal, confi dent, independent and safe participation in everyday activities. Inclusive design goes beyond simple accessibility. A design that offers a choice of stepped or ramped approach to a building addresses accessibility for all; however, one that incorporates a level approach for everyone to use is a truly inclusive design.

Design guidance is often based on the needs of a notional ‘average’ person; however, everyone varies from the average in some way. People differ in height, strength and dexterity; can have different visual, hearing or cogni-tive abilities; or may have respiratory impairments or reduced stamina. Mental health or emotional issues can also affect people ’ s ability to interact with the built environment. Physical and mental health conditions can be temporary, ongoing or progressive and may vary considerably throughout different stages of life. Older people may have limited mobility; some may use wheelchairs, sticks or crutches. Mobility may be affected by having to carry a child or heavy shopping bags or push a buggy.

Inclusive d esign

The Access Manual: Designing, Auditing and Managing Inclusive Built Environments, Third Edition. Ann Sawyer and Keith Bright.

© 2014 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. Published 2014 by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

1 An inclusive approach 5 Principles of inclusive design 7 Benefi ts 8 How environments are used 9 Access appraisals 14 Access statements 16 Case study – Canada Water Library 22

COPYRIG

HTED M

ATERIAL

6 Inclusive design

Despite this apparently wide diversity of need, many of the issues that affect how people interact with the built environment are similar. For example, good, clear, effective and sensibly used signage incorporating symbols helps everyone, including those whose fi rst language is not that of the information on the sign. Firm, level, non-refl ective surfaces will not only benefi t people using mobility aids such as a wheelchair or crutches, but also people pushing buggies or carrying luggage. Well-designed lighting, colour and visual contrast may benefi t people with sensory or cognitive impairments and will also affect how people feel and are able to respond to spaces and places.

An inclusive approach to design and management does not deny that there are specifi c areas where particular assistance can be provided. Hearing enhancement systems, such as induction loops, or the provision of informa-tion in Braille, are useful to certain building users. Specifi c provisions that meet particular needs are also part of inclusive design.

Adopting a positive approach and giving careful consideration to the abili-ties of users, rather than their disabilities or limitations, can identify design outcomes that are able to address the needs of a wide range of building users across the spectrum of ability, age, gender, and religious and cultural diver-sity. Active and effective management in use will ensure that these identifi ed design expectations will actually be delivered in practice.

Figure 1.1 The London 2012 Olympic Parklands and Public Realm project, which received a Civic Trust award for Recognition of Excellence in the Built Environment, is a good example of inclusive design in practice.

Inclusive design 7

Principles of i nclusive d esign

To help achieve this aim, it is useful to understand and adopt the established principles of inclusive design. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment ( CABE ) published guidance on inclusive design, including a set of principles.

CABE was established in 1999 as the UK government ’ s advisors on architecture, urban design and public space in England. It was dissolved in 2011 and subsequently merged with the Design Council.

See Appendix B for details of how to access archived publications from CABE, including those relating to the principles of inclusive design.

In the view of CABE, good design is inclusive design, and design that does not deliver an inclusive environment is not good enough (CABE 2006). They also suggested that good design will not only create inclusive spaces and places that address the needs of all those who will use them, they will also provide relaxing and enjoyable places for people to use (CABE 2008).

The principles proposed by CABE are that environments should be:

• inclusive – so everyone can use them safely, easily and with dignity; • responsive – taking into account what people say they need and want; • fl exible – so different people can use them in different ways; • convenient – so everyone can use them without too much effort or

separation; • accommodating – for all people, regardless of disability, age, mobility,

ethnicity or circumstances; • welcoming – with no disabling barriers that might exclude some people; • realistic – offering more than one solution to help balance everyone ’ s

needs and recognising that one solution may not work for all.

The Royal Institute of British Architects ( RIBA ) also identifi es a set of prin-ciples of inclusive design. These refl ect the principles suggested by CABE and also suggest that inclusive design must be central to architecture as it is not a minority or a stand-alone issue in the design process (RIBA 2009). The RIBA defi nes inclusive design as a process which creates places and spaces that everyone can use with comfort, dignity and convenience, and that seeks to

8 Inclusive design

further an individual ’ s social and economic standing, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, disabilities or circumstances.

Benefi ts

It is often thought that addressing the needs of everyone in new or existing buildings will always lead to increased costs. However, appropriate consid-eration of the issues at the design stage accompanied by good management in use can deliver accessible and inclusive solutions at little or no extra cost. Buildings that are designed to be inclusive from the outset can also avoid the need for subsequent costly, and perhaps unsightly, alterations.

Elements of the built of the environment, such as buildings, pedestrian areas or transport interchanges, are with us for a long time, but their life is dynamic, not static, and there are often opportunities to improve accessibil-ity. Floor and wall fi nishes, lighting, decoration and features, fi xtures and fi ttings, and so on, may change several times throughout the life of a build-ing. Linking improvements to maintenance or refurbishment programmes can help ensure that the work is done cost-effectively.

Figure 1.2 Good, clear signs help everyone.

Inclusive design 9

There are also fi nancial and social benefi ts to be had from designing inclu-sively. There are 10.8 million people aged 65 or over in the UK, and this number is projected to rise by nearly 50% in the next 20 years to over 16 million. The population over 75 is projected to double in the next 30 years. The number of people over 85 in the UK is predicted to double in the next 20 years and nearly treble in the next 30 (Age UK). Increases in the state pension age and the removal of compulsory retirement ages will almost certainly see an increase in the number of people over the age of 65 remain-ing in the work place.

Older people with higher disposable incomes are becoming a more important force in the market place, and with increased opportunities in employment, the spending power of disabled people will also grow. Service providers can increase and broaden their customer base by making their services, and the buildings that house them, accessible to everyone. Employ-ers can benefi t from the skills and abilities of disabled people, by ensuring that their buildings and procedures are accessible.

Inclusive design can also take account of cultural, religious and gender diversity and in so doing promote social inclusion. The religious and cultural diversity of the UK population has increased in recent years, and current predictions suggest that this is a trend that will continue. The Equality Act 2010 does not place a duty of reasonable adjustment to address discrimina-tion against any protected characteristic other than that of disability (see Chapter 2 ); however, accommodating religious and cultural diversity can affect the design, provision and management of the built environment. An example is the provision and design of sanitary and changing facilities, faith rooms and associated washing facilities. A requirement for separate sex accommodation, ergonomic considerations and women ’ s safety issues may also form part of an inclusive design approach.

How e nvironments a re u sed

In developing a strategy to ensure that user needs are appropriately addressed, it is important to consider the ways in which each area of a building or environment is used, managed and operated rather than just relying on the generic title to describe the function. A building such as a shopping centre or hospital will contain many areas with different functions, where the physi-cal design and type of use of each area may affect the access requirements. For example, within a hospital, the factors affecting accessibility will vary considerably across circulation routes, refreshment areas, wards, operating theatres, waiting rooms and consulting rooms. Some areas will be used by

10 Inclusive design

members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and whose individual needs will be unknown, whilst other areas will be occupied by staff whose needs can be assessed and met. In some buildings visitors may have to rely upon signs for information, in others there may be reception desks where staff are able to identify particular user needs and offer assist-ance where required. Access may be restricted to some parts of buildings, whereas other areas may be open to everyone.

Entire buildings or parts of buildings can be classifi ed according to use, and this approach can be helpful in understanding how to provide services in a non-discriminatory way and how to improve accessibility in ways that will suit the needs of all users.

Use c lassifi cation

There are four use classifi cations described here:

• use classifi cation 1 – complete freedom of movement; • use classifi cation 2 – controlled entry/freedom of movement; • use classifi cation 3 – free entry/controlled movement; • use classifi cation 4 – controlled entry/controlled movement.

Use c lassifi cation 1 – c omplete f reedom of m ovement A building or area in this classifi cation would be one where the user or visitor is free to enter, wander around, probably in no particular sequence, and leave without the need to make any contact with potential assistance points such as a reception/information desk or security point. Environments that fall into this category may include shops and shopping centres, department stores, super-markets, some hospitals and non-fee paying museums and exhibitions.

An environment in this use classifi cation is likely to contain long travel distances. The provision of seating, preferably where visitors do not have to pay to sit down as in a café, will be helpful to many people, especially older people and disabled people.

In environments that allow users complete freedom of movement, infor-mation will need to be provided remotely, usually by signs. The provision of an information point or help desk may assist some visitors but will not

Inclusive design 11

Many people, but especially older people and those with hearing impairments, dislike environments with poor acoustical qualities, or ones that contain equipment with loud background noises.

Figure 1.3 A good level of accessibility can benefi t a wide range of people, includ-ing people with disabilities.

remove the need to provide information remotely, as it cannot be assumed that all visitors will make use of it.

Environments that allow the type of freedom of movement described here are likely to be the most diffi cult to design and manage to ensure appropriate levels of accessibility for all users. There may be a wide range of needs to be met and little opportunity to provide specifi c assistance. In such environ-ments the provision of good environmental services (lighting, acoustics, visual contrast, etc.), appropriate communication facilities (signs, audible and visual information systems, etc.) and ongoing staff training are essential.

12 Inclusive design

Use c lassifi cation 2 – c ontrolled e ntry/ f reedom of m ove-ment Environments in this category will have some point of control, usually a payment desk or security point, but, after passing that point, users will be allowed the type of free, usually unrestricted, movement described above. This category might include sports halls, ice rinks, fee-paying museums and art galleries, some hospitals, exhibition halls, libraries, some educational buildings, some hotels and some offi ces.

Good lighting is essential at any reception desk or information desk to ensure that people with sensory impairments are able to communicate effectively. However, it is not just more lighting that is needed, it is appropriately designed lighting that maximises visibility without increas-ing glare or shadows.

In such environments there is still a need to deliver information and assist-ance remotely once the visitor has passed the point of control, but there is also the opportunity, if management practices are appropriate, for particular user needs to be identifi ed and for assistance to be offered. It is important to consider the potential needs of visitors, have the ability to provide appro-priate assistance if required and have contingency plans in place for those situations which are more diffi cult to foresee.

Use c lassifi cation 3 – f ree e ntry/ c ontrolled m ovement This type of environment will usually have a central entrance through which the visi-tors enter, but once inside, movement around the building will be restricted. Examples of this type of classifi cation include town halls, civic centres, major post offi ces, law courts, airports, bus and railway stations, some hospitals, theatres, cinemas, some multi-tenanted offi ces, restaurants, banks (as a cus-tomer) and some hotels.

Some larger buildings may have areas of controlled movement combined with other areas where there is complete freedom of movement. An example is a hospital where there may be complete freedom of movement around the refreshment areas, shops and corridors, and controlled entry to wards and clinics. The methods of providing information may vary according to the type of use.

Use c lassifi cation 4 – c ontrolled e ntry/ c ontrolled m ovement In this type of environment, security will usually be a major issue, and the type

Inclusive design 13

of visitor will be restricted. Controlling the entry to an environment allows an assessment of the needs of all users to be made at the initial point of contact, providing that that initial means of requesting entry to the environ-ment is, itself, fully accessible.

Examples of this type of classifi cation would include offi ces with car park controls or entry phones/CCTV, some schools, some multi-tenanted offi ces, research laboratories and some banks (as a customer or an employee). In buildings of this type, management issues will be of great importance. Con-sideration should also be given to how the building will actually function during all the time it is in use. For example, a school may fi t into this clas-sifi cation during the day but may have complete freedom of movement in the evening if it is being used for evening classes or community projects.

Signs provided in schools should be clear and simple and designed to meet not only the needs of the children using the building during the day, but also the adults who may use the building in the evening.

An analysis of a building using this system of classifi cation can help to give a more accurate picture of the specifi c access requirements of each individual area and can highlight opportunities for improvements.

Who u ses the e nvironment?

It is also important to consider who uses an environment and how this may affect general and specifi c recommendations to improve accessibility. A service provider has to anticipate the needs of his or her customers, but an employer can identify the needs of his or her workforce, though not those of potential employees. Whether or not specifi c access requirements can be identifi ed will affect the advice given in an audit.

For example, an employee may require a greater amount of circulation space at a workspace, a particular desk arrangement or the provision of specialist equipment. These measures will be identifi ed in relation to a current or future employee and so can be carried out when the need arises. In addition to recommendations aimed at achieving a good overall standard of accessibility, an audit report should recommend that procedures are in place to deal with potential future needs that cannot be identifi ed in advance, and identify issues that are not currently causing problems but may need to be dealt with in the future.

14 Inclusive design

Access a ppraisals

An access appraisal is an assessment of the access provision in proposals for a new development, refurbishment or alteration and can be used to ensure that inclusive design is addressed at an early stage in the design process. Appraisals can also be used to assess access policies, access briefs, publicity and information material and maintenance programmes. Appraisals are carried out for many of the same reasons as audits (see Chapter 4 ) and the information that should be gathered beforehand is similar.

When looking at proposals for buildings and environments, the appraisal follows the pattern of an audit, but the journey is taken on paper and in discussions, rather than through the building. Potential access problems can be identifi ed or anticipated; however, a comprehensive review depends on there being a suffi cient level of detail and information available. Physical features should be assessed, as in an audit, and the guidance given should also include issues of management and use.

Recommendations for access improvements should be given, though in some cases these may not be as prescriptive as when carrying out an access audit. The appraisal may suggest that a particular layout or feature will make access diffi cult and recommend that an area be redesigned, bearing in mind certain factors. Usually, an appraisal will not include detailed redesign of a proposal, but will provide the necessary information to allow the designer to improve the proposed accessibility. It is preferable that the access appraiser or access consultant is involved in a project through all stages of design, construction and commissioning.

Information a vailable

The level of information provided in proposals will vary depending on the stage the design process has reached, and this will affect the guidance that can be given. Often detailed information will not be available when the appraisal is carried out, and requests should be made for further detail. As

Recommendations to alter storage arrangements in a workplace to accommodate reach from a wheelchair may not be necessary where there are no wheelchair users using the storage facilities. However, the access audit could raise the issue and note that alterations should be made when the need arises (see Chapter 4 ).

Inclusive design 15

well as looking at plans of the proposals, specifi cations and schedules should be checked. Inevitably there will be some areas where no information is available, but detailed recommendations can still be provided to ensure that issues are picked up at the appropriate time. An access appraisal report can become a checklist for a designer to use as the design develops, to ensure that all the relevant areas are covered.

The r eport

An access appraisal report can have a similar format to an audit report, listing current features and making recommendations for access improvements. It may not be appropriate to include priorities and costings if the appraisal is carried out at design stage. As design is an evolving process the appraisal should not be seen as a static exercise, and it may be more appropriate for it to take the form of a series of ‘plan checks’. These can be carried out at various stages and make recommendations that can be ‘ticked off’ once implemented.

Ongoing i nvolvement

If an appraisal is requested for a funding or grant submission, it may take place at an early stage in the design process, and the involvement of the appraiser may be limited. It is preferable for an appraiser to have an ongoing relation-ship with the designer throughout a project, as this will allow assessment of more detailed proposals and specifi cations as they become available.

It is becoming more usual for an access consultant to be involved in large projects from the start, as happens with consultants in other fi elds. This allows the consultant to have input throughout the design and construction process, and this level of involvement is likely to result in a more integrated design solution. There should also be a method of passing on access information once the building is commissioned to ensure that accessible features are understood, made use of and not altered unknowingly. The process of ongoing access management is described in Chapter 4 .

Building u se and m anagement

Issues of building use and management need to be taken into account in an appraisal, as in an audit. Information relating to these issues should be included in any report, and areas where use and management may infl uence access should be highlighted.

16 Inclusive design

Skills r equired

Skills in reading and understanding plans are required to carry out an access appraisal of proposals using drawings. These include the use of scale, drawing conventions and symbols. There will be a need to translate the information given on the drawings and in the specifi cations into a three-dimensional picture of the building or environment to be able to anticipate fully any potential access issues.

As with access auditing, a knowledge of the environmental needs of disabled people is required, as well as a working knowledge of building construction and design.

Advice on undertaking an access audit of an existing building or environ-ment is given in Chapter 4 .

Access s tatements

Access statements have developed as a vehicle to assist those involved in the commissioning, design and control of the built environment to help

Figure 1.4 Car parking spaces designated for blue badge holders may need to be managed to ensure correct use.

Inclusive design 17

ensure that the completed building or space takes account of the principles of inclusive design. An access statement can serve as an audit trail for record-ing and explaining decisions on accessibility taken throughout the project, and it can demonstrate the degree to which the fi ndings of any consultation infl uenced the design process and decisions taken. The statement can also give details of the design guidance used and explain and justify an alternative approach to access where it has been necessary to deviate from established guidance.

The a ccess s tatement p rocess

The access statement process provides an opportunity for developers, design-ers and managers of buildings and environments to demonstrate their com-mitment to accessibility and to set out and record issues relating to accessibility throughout strategic, planning, design and occupation phases of a project.

Strategic p hase In the initial stages of a project the statement can be used to record the elements of the brief that relate to access. At this strategic level it will be a statement of intent and can demonstrate how the project will meet any relevant legislation. The form of the statement will depend upon the size, nature and complexity of the project but should contain, where relevant, the following information:

• a brief explanation of the client ’ s policies and approach to access; • sources of advice and guidance on access which will be followed; • details of any consultations undertaken or planned; • an explanation of any specifi c issues affecting accessibility and details of

access solutions adopted, including those which deviate from recognised sources of good practice;

• details of the management and maintenance management policies adopted, or to be adopted, to maintain features enhancing accessibility.

Where good practice cannot or may not be met, the statement should say why, what the implications are for the users and what other steps are being taken to lessen any adverse effects on accessibility. When a designer wishes to depart from current guidance, the access statement can be used to explain how a proposed feature will provide an equivalent standard of accessibility.

Consultation with disabled people and other interested groups should be seen as a crucial element in the preparation of a statement and undertaken as early as possible in the development process.

18 Inclusive design

Planning p hase As the project progresses, the access statement can develop into a document to be submitted with a planning application as part of the Design and Access Statement (see later).

Design p hase Further along the design process, a more detailed access statement can be developed to identify technical and detailed design issues to accompany the building regulation application. At this stage, the statement should identify:

• areas where the project design deviates from guidance in established sources of good or best practice;

• the reasons why; and • the design team ’ s justifi cation that the proposed deviation provides an

accessibility standard which is the same as, or is an improvement on, the established guidance.

Further information on access statements at the building regulation stage of a project is given below.

Occupation and m anagement p hase The fi nal stage of the access statement process is to draw on the statements at earlier stages and to develop a plan to help those involved in the long-term management of a facility to demonstrate their commitment to accessibility, and to identify how this will be followed through in their policies, practices and management. The process of ongoing access management is described in Chapter 4 .

The access statement process also assists in ensuring that decisions taken during the design phases are not lost or reversed by those responsible for the management of the building throughout its life. It will also help to demon-strate how the evolving duties imposed by the Equality Act have been, or are being, met.

Design and a ccess s tatements

Planning Design and access statements were introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as a mandatory accompaniment to most planning applications in England and Wales.

In England and Wales, changes made in 2013 and 2014 to simplify the Planning process now limit this mandatory requirement only to planning applications which relate to the following categories:

Inclusive design 19

For all projects, however, early consideration of design issues is essential and central to good development. The design and access statement is a vehicle that can be used to demonstrate that a proposal appropriately addresses context, scale, use, sustainability, landscape and fulfi lment of the principles of inclusive design. It also can be used to identify the technical guidance that it is proposed will be used in developing the design, informa-tion on public and other transport links with the development and car parking, and how means of escape will be addressed, if appropriate. Where confl icts have arisen and the decisions taken to resolve them have infl uenced the fi nal design proposal, these should be clearly stated in the statement.

Regardless of the size of the proposed development, any submitted state-ment should always include information on inclusive design and be able to demonstrate that inclusive design has formed an integral part of the overall design and decision-making process. As planning offi cers may well consider

In England and Wales, a major development is currently defi ned as follows:

(a) the winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral-working deposits;

(b) waste development; (c) the provision of dwelling houses where

(i) the number of dwelling houses to be provided is 10 or more; (ii) the development is to be carried out on a site having an area

of 0.5 ha or more, and it is not known whether the develop-ment falls within sub-paragraph (c) (i);

(d) the provision of a building or buildings where the fl oor space to be created by the development is 1000 m 2 or more, or a develop-ment carried out on a site having an area of 1 ha or more.

• major developments; • where any part of the development falls within a Conservation Area and

the development consists of the provision of one or more dwelling houses or the provision of a building or buildings where the fl oor space created by the development is 100 square metres or more.

• Listed Building Consents.

20 Inclusive design

Listed B uilding C onsent For listed buildings and environments, pro-posed developments must strike an appropriate balance between access and conservation. An access statement should be submitted with Listed Building Consent applications to demonstrate how this will be achieved. English Heritage suggests that this process will be assisted by the development of an access plan which considers options for improvement, identifi es needs and impacts, and looks at what is likely to be a reasonable adjustment.

They suggest that the plan should include details of consultations under-taken with access and conservation bodies and disabled people, as well as the following:

• identifying short- and long-term aims in relation to opportunities; • setting out proposed solutions relating to operational use or physical

alteration; • identifying required statutory consents or other approvals; and • proposing timescales for implementation.

Further details of the recommended process are given in the publication Easy Access to Historic Buildings (English Heritage, 2012).

Local access groups are usually volunteers whose advice can be invalu-able; however the breadth of advice they are able to offer can be infl uenced by the knowledge and experiences of individual members of the group.

If shortfalls occur in the level of advice or guidance available, or if comments made by access groups are disputed, applicants could con-sider gathering alternative or more detailed guidance and support from other sources. These might include access consultants and experts in particular fi elds of disability and user need.

accessibility when a planning application is made, designers and applicants should expect to respond to questions and comments at this stage.

Consultation with a local authority access offi cer and/or a local access group forms an important part of the planning application process, and it should also be an important consideration in the design process. Details of any consultations that have been undertaken and how they have infl uenced the design process should also be included in the submitted information.

Inclusive design 21

Access s tatement/ s trategy and P art M of the B uilding R egulations

Revisions made in 2013 to the Approved Document to Part M of the Building Regulations (ADM 2013) introduced the term ‘access strategy’ to replace ‘access statement’ as used in previous versions. The concept and scope of the process remains the same.

Requirement M1 to Part M states that ‘Reasonable provision shall be made for people to:

(a) gain access to; and (b) use the buildings and its facilities.

It is a Requirement that covers the accessibility for all users, not solely in addressing those of disabled people.

ADM states that Approved Documents are intended to provide guidance for some of the more common building situations. However, there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements. Thus,

Figure 1.5 Access to historic buildings can be improved with sensitive, well-designed alterations.

22 Inclusive design

there is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an Approved Document if you prefer to meet the relevant requirement some other way.

ADM also states that the guidance it contains is designed to indicate only one way in which those requirements may be met ’ and the way alternative solutions can be justifi ed as being appropriate is through the development of a written ‘Access Strategy’.

It is not a requirement to provide an access strategy to accompany a build-ing regulation application, although it may be useful to explain design proposals if they do not follow what is detailed in the ADM. This process is clearly identifi ed in ADM when it states:

To ensure satisfactory outcomes, communication between applicants and building control bodies [the Access Strategy] should focus on areas where proposals diverge from the practice in this Approved Document rather than in providing an exhaustive explanation where features are in accord-ance with the guidance.

Therefore, where a proposed design detail deviates from that described in the ADM, the access strategy is a vehicle to demonstrate why the proposed design is of an equivalent standard to that contained in the ADM, and the evidence on which such an opinion is based.

As a document which records and justifi es design decisions, the access strategy may also be useful to explain decisions taken should a future chal-lenge be made under the Equality Act. This potential future use should be considered when the statements are prepared, and versions of the statement that develop throughout the project should be retained to provide an audit trail.

Case s tudy – C anada W ater L ibrary

The Library at Canada Water in Rotherhithe forms an important com-munity facility at the heart of a vibrant new town centre comprising new homes, retail and offi ce space, leisure facilities and the creation of a new civic square. The provision of an accessible and inclusive community facility was a fundamental requirement of the brief which was developed with input from the local community who also played a role in selecting the winning design.

Inclusive design 23

The success of the Library within the community has been apparent from the outset with over 15 000 public visitors in the fi rst week and 10 000 items borrowed. Since then the library has averaged around 1500 visitors per day and issued around 35 000 items per month. The building redefi nes the function of a library from that of a simple book-store into a place that the whole community has reasons to visit and fi nds pleasure when doing so. Participation in the activities taking place within the Library is encouraged by the proximity of Canada Water underground station and the new plaza where people can shop, social-ise or sit by the dockside and relax.

Two main entrances allow level, fl exible and convenient access into the building. Both entrances have a direct visual link to lifts and a feature staircase which in turn gives easy access to the reception desk, main library and associated adult, young persons and children ’ s areas. An accessible multi-use theatre is located on the ground fl oor, and at fi rst fl oor level, an accessible mezzanine provides a quiet place for study with work desks suitable for disabled people visiting the library.

Environmental provisions such as acoustics, illuminance and visual contrast have been well considered throughout the building. There is also very good provision of standard and accessible toilets and other facilities, including the provision of a spacious self-contained child ’ s toilet which can easily accommodate a parent with several small chil-dren and a buggy.

As well as enjoying a good standard of physical accessibility, the Library offers services that fulfi l a wider remit of inclusivity. Services provided include free Internet use, training in the use of computers, talking books and the option of auto checkout for books, all provided in a number of languages to address the needs of the local community.

Canada Water Library was the winner of the 2013 Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design sponsored by the Centre for Accessible Environments and the Civic Trust Awards. Architect/designer: CZWG Architects LLP. Inclusive Design Consultant: Access Design. Photo-graphs by Tim Crocker. Reproduced by permission of CZWG Architects LLP.

24 Inclusive design

Inclusive design 25