Photo of people sitting on table and chairs talking, surrounded by a brightly coloured tent intervention with lots of bright lights - part of ‘The Clearing’ by The DisOrdinary Architecture Project.

The DisOrdinary Architecture Project is an informal platform that foregrounds disabled creativity, to shift modes of practice beyond conventional notions of access. We promote new models of practice for the built environment, led by the creativity and experiences of Disabled, Deaf and Neurodivergent artists.

The DisOrdinary Architecture Project believes that thinking differently about disability (and ability) can open up the design of our built surroundings to new forms of creativity and critique. Instead of treating disabled people as merely a ‘technical’ or ‘legal’ problem for architecture and urban design, we show how starting from disability – from the rich differences that biodiversity and neuro-divergence bring – is a powerful creative force for design. We want to start from difference to challenge assumptions about ‘what is normal’ in the design of our built surroundings.

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Photo of a group of people sat in a lecture setting, listening to Jos from The DisOrdinary Architecture Project presenting ‘Many More Parts than M’, as seen on the screen behind her.
Photo looking down on the hole in the top of a blue tent, revealing people having a colourful party inside - part of The Clearing by The DisOrdinary Architecture Project
Photo of boy wearing headphones, sat in a unique wooden chair with a curved wooden cover, surrounded by other beautifully crafted chairs.

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Each month we’re spotlighting some of the key DisOrdinary Architecture collaborators and projects we’re really excited about. This month it’s @projectartworks and their current show ‘Residential’ 💛 Project Art Works a
Each month we’re spotlighting some of the key DisOrdinary Architecture collaborators and projects we’re really excited about. This month it’s @projectartworks and their current show ‘Residential’ 💛 Project Art Works are an exciting collective based in Hastings (UK), that collaborates with people with complex support needs, families and circles of support. Their practice intersects art and care, responding to neurodivergence - and its gifts and impact - and challenging paradigms of inclusion. The collective currently are showing the beautiful ‘Residential’ at Contemporary Copenhagen. Running until March 2025, make sure to check it out! 🔗 Find out more about the Residential using the link in our bio. #DisOrdinaryArchitecture #Disabled #Artists #Architects #Architecture #DisabilityAwareness #InclusiveDesign #DisabilityJustice #Inclusion #Copenhagen
Imperfect - the second episode of our ‘DisOrdinary Dialogues’ podcast is now live - 🎙️🎧 What is the value of imperfect design? This conversation see hosts @redversrowe and Tom Walker explore concepts of the ‘imperfect’ and
Imperfect - the second episode of our ‘DisOrdinary Dialogues’ podcast is now live - 🎙️🎧 What is the value of imperfect design? This conversation see hosts @redversrowe and Tom Walker explore concepts of the ‘imperfect’ and imperfect design with three key guests: @josontheline (Co-Director, DisOrdinary Architecture Co-Director), Grace Choi (Architect/Director, @gracechoiarchitecture) and Nikki Dravers (Food Partnership Co-ordinator, @refusecafe), and contributions from staff and volunteers at the REfUSE Café in Chester Le Street. A big shout out to @thesupportingactfoundation, who have made this podcast possible. And @barclayscarlett for the podcast graphics! 🔗 Head to the bio to listen to this conversation - or to access the transcript! #DisOrdinaryArchitecture #DisOrdinaryDialogues #Disabled #Artists #Architects #Architecture #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityJustice #Advocacy #NewPodcast #Beauty #BeyondTheVisual #Imperfect
Last month, DisOrdinary Architecture's @josontheline headed to Copenhagen, here’s what she got up to! Jos has been a guest professor at the Royal Danish Academy for two years, and last month headed there for a 3 day workshop, in collaboration
Last month, DisOrdinary Architecture's @josontheline headed to Copenhagen, here’s what she got up to! Jos has been a guest professor at the Royal Danish Academy for two years, and last month headed there for a 3 day workshop, in collaboration with the Cluster for Spatial Inclusion. Working with students from the school, this workshop explored alternative ways of mapping access across the campus. She also collaborated on a public talk from the wonderful Aimi Hamraie and a seminar with Danish disabled artists and activists. The workshops continued conversations with the Academy that have been running for some time. Last year, DisOrdinary Architecture ran a series of workshops at @kglakademi, which resulted in an exhibition at the International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress. This was based on a project for all incoming Masters’ students to the school, led by Anne Brandhoj . Titled ‘Together’, it asked students to explore ‘how we can – with our individual bodies, needs, wishes and preferences – negotiate with each other and share spaces, activities or experiences, without excluding others or feeling excluded by others.’ Many thanks as always to the Bevica Fonden for funding. Alongside @kglakademi_ibd, @kglakademi.spatial.inclusion and @masa.shi.kajita. 🔗 To find out more about our work with @kglakademi, head to the DisOrdinary Architecture archive on our website, via the link in bio. #DisOrdinaryArchitecture #Disabled #Artists #Architects #Architecture #DisabilityAwareness #InclusiveDesign #DisabilityJustice #Inclusion #Copenhagen
We’re taking part in ORGANISING ABUELOS tomorrow - and you’re invited! 💛 We’re delighted to have been asked by @we.are.maia to be part of their programme on Saturday 26th October at @signingtreevenue. This project is part of prep
We’re taking part in ORGANISING ABUELOS tomorrow - and you’re invited! 💛 We’re delighted to have been asked by @we.are.maia to be part of their programme on Saturday 26th October at @signingtreevenue. This project is part of preparations for the development of a community space in Birmingham in which “culture, radical hospitality and architecture will be crafted to meet the moment.” As part of the programme, DisOrdinary Architecture will be co-running a lunchtime workshop with MAIA about Disability Justice and Architecture. The workshop is free, BSL interpreted and has access in-person and online - so everyone is welcome! Swipe right for details. ➡️ MAIA is a wonderful Birmingham-based Black-led cultural organisation, working to build infrastructures that grow the personal, structural and sustained capacities, in support of thriving Black life and its interdependencies and informed by spatial, redistributive, healing and Disability Justice. 🔗 Head to the link in our bio for more details and to sign up to the event. #DisOrdinaryArchitecture #Disabled #Artists #Architects #Architecture #DisabilityAwareness #Birmingham #DisabilityJustice #RadicalHospitality #BSLevent Imagery (c) MAIA
How can Architecture practices begin to take forward Many More Parts than M? 📗 Earlier this year, DisOrdinary Architecture Co-Founder Jos Boys was a key speaker at an internal @fosterandpartners event, discussing how we can push the conversation o
How can Architecture practices begin to take forward Many More Parts than M? 📗 Earlier this year, DisOrdinary Architecture Co-Founder Jos Boys was a key speaker at an internal @fosterandpartners event, discussing how we can push the conversation of Inclusive Design across the profession, beyond a simple reliance on building regulations and compliance. The event built on conversations sparked by our recent MMPTM! publication, and saw a screening of the practice’s internal documentary film ‘Experience my journey; co-designing inclusive and resilient futures’ - which is now for everyone to access! Across the event, contributions came from individuals including @arupuk, @chrislaing_ (@deafarchitecturefront), @blondhistorian and saisai_saida. 🔗 Head to the bio to find out more about Many More Parts, to watch Foster’s video, or to get in touch about how you can take MMPTM! forward in your work. #DisOrdinaryArchitecture #Disabled #Artists #Architects #Architecture #DisabilityAwareness #InclusiveDesign #BuildingRegulations #BuildingCompliance #CoDesign #DisabilityJustice
Last month, we began spotlighting some of the key DisOrdinary Architecture collaborators and projects we’re really excited about. This month, it's Poppy Levison (@Poppy_Levison), who has just been shortlisted as one of the RIBAJ Rising Stars fo
Last month, we began spotlighting some of the key DisOrdinary Architecture collaborators and projects we’re really excited about. This month, it's Poppy Levison (@Poppy_Levison), who has just been shortlisted as one of the RIBAJ Rising Stars for 2024! 💛 Poppy is currently a Part 2 architecture student at the Royal College of Art, alongside being a disability activist, drawing on her experience as a blind woman to advocate for inclusive design and a DisOrdinary Architecture Advisory Board member! We've been working closely with Poppy over the last few years on several projects, including Architecture Beyond Sight, Seats at the Table, our Many More Parts than M! compendium video series, and most recently on Episode 1 of DisOrdinary Dialogues. 🎧 🔗 Find out more about Poppy, the projects and the videos mentioned, by heading to the link in the bio. Or by using the handles below. 📣 And make sure to check out the winning 2024 Rising Stars cohort on 22nd October. @poppy_levison @ribajournal @rca.architecture | #DisOrdinaryArchitecture #Disabled #Artists #Architects #Architecture #DisabilityAwareness #InclusiveDesign #CoDesign #DisabilityJustice #InclusiveExhibtions #DisabilityAndDisability

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