Inclusive architecture: a co-design experience

Abstract This paper presents the use of co-design in architecture as a form of social inclusion for Visually Impaired People through a partnership between an association of blind people (community) and the Postgraduate Program in Architecture and Urbanism (Higher Education Institution). This article shows the results of a co-design action, which will assist in the achievement of a broader research goal, aiming to define co-design methods, techniques and tools applied to the inclusion of visually impaired people in the process of architecture, urbanism, landscaping and interior design. This research study reports on two stages of a co-design project: the co-design of a waiting / reception room and a socialising and leisure external area (with the Association’s adults), and the development of two toys for these spaces (with the Association’s children). The research methods chosen were focus groups, the interaction with the tactile model and accompanied tours. The results demonstrate the importance of co-design as a way to include visually impaired people, enhancing their well-being and self-esteem, as they effectively participate in the creation of the environment which they are part of and leave the passive zone that they normally find themselves in during the architectural design process.摘要 本研究将协同设计（co-design）应用于建筑学领域，作为视障人士社会融入的实践路径，由盲人协会（社区组织）与建筑与城市规划研究生项目（高等教育机构）合作开展。本文展示了一项协同设计实践的成果，该成果将助力实现一项更宏大的研究目标：即明确可将视障人士融入建筑学、城市规划、景观设计与室内设计流程的协同设计方法、技术与工具。本研究报告了一项协同设计项目的两个实施阶段：一是与该协会成年成员合作完成等候/接待室及户外社交休闲区域的协同设计，二是与该协会儿童成员合作开发适配上述空间的两款玩具。本研究选用的方法包括焦点小组访谈、触觉模型互动及陪同导览。研究结果表明，协同设计作为视障人士社会融入的路径具有重要价值，能够提升其幸福感与自尊感——视障群体可有效参与到自身所处的人居环境营造过程中，摆脱在建筑设计流程中通常所处的被动境地。