Projects

The DisOrdinary Architecture Project grew out of an earlier network called Architecture Inside Out, which began in 2007. Disabled artists have always been central to this developing platform.

Throughout, these projects aim to find creative and critical ways to see behind ‘common sense’ assumptions that frame ability and disability wrongly as simplistic binary oppositions; with one marked as obvious and unproblematic (highly mobile, active, independent and quick-thinking) whilst the other is named as a ‘problem’ (passive, dependent and slow).  We believe that everyone has access needs, its just that ‘normal’ built environments enables some people, whilst neglecting others.

DisOrdinary Architecture’s explorations even go beyond concepts such as access and inclusion – which already assume that a designed environment exists, to which disabled people must then be added – i.e. given access, and ‘be included.’ Rather, we take a lead from the concepts coming out of disability activism, scholarship and arts that focus on social, spatial and material justice.

These projects are not just about attempting to ‘include’ disabled people in current education, practices and environments, but rather intend to challengeand change those practices.

We are constantly experimenting, and learning about, innovative ways to ‘do disability differently’ in architecture and urban design; and always looking for partners in this endeavour.