DisOrdinary Architecture have been working with architects Manalo and White on a project called Fran Wen for the Nyth Youth Theatre near Bangor, Wales since 2020. Project architect Takuya Oura was already embedding inventive design for inclusion before he came to us. 

The initial Manalo and White proposal for Fran Wen – that won the competitive tender - was explained through audio-description rather than conventional orthographic drawings. As the architects write in their submission: “While [audio-description] is primarily prepared for people with viewing difficulties, it also invites opportunity for a fully sighted person to see things differently and enhance their viewing experience. […]”. They also note that the process allowed them “to see and think differently. Numerous design details emerged from the process of writing the script with [the audio-describer] such as reverberation time, tactility of stonework, smell of wood, velocity of airflow […]. Our ambition for Nyth is to offer valid choices to all users with a joy and clarity in finding their way around, assured by sense of security and filled with excitement of encounters.” 

Since then DisOrdinary Architecture has been involved in the selection of disabled artists/designers to make work as part of the scheme development, and led an online workshop for the buildings intended occupiers, to explore creative ways of integrating inclusive design throughout, with Zoe Partington, Raquel Meseguer Zafe, Jos Boys and through a written submission by Mandy Redvers-Rowe.