Disability Meets Architecture
Type: Podcast
Year: 2025
Location: Online
DisOrdinary Architecture Contributors: Jos Boys and Scar Barclay
Critical Design Lab contributors: Aimi Hamriae, Paul de Fazio
Podcast contributors: Karen Braitmayer, Natasha Trotman, Jeff Kaspar, Anthony Clarke, Micha Frazer-Caroll, Samir Pandya, Beatrice Alder-Bolton
Funding: The Graham Foundation
We collaborated with US-based Critical Design Lab to co-create four podcasts, to enable conversations that cross boundaries between architecture, disability studies and related disciplines; and across theory and practice beyond the conventions of conventional access. Over the project, we were looking to draw out some productive frictions - not as underlying conflicts in attitudes or approaches that can shut down a discussion, but as something generative of further inquiry, curiosity, and collaboration.
The four conversations start from the themes of:
Standards, codes and access-washing
Caring practices
Who counts as productive bodyminds
Disability and anti-fascism
A new generation of disability scholars, activists, and designers is developing innovative approaches to accessible built environments, beyond demanding regulatory compliance or conventional access consultancy. Unfortunately, these ideas and approaches continue to have little impact on architectural education and practice.
Yet, this field, known as Critical Access Studies, has developed rich terminologies and cutting-edge design practices, both of which could transform the ways that architects understand why access matters. Going beyond making accessible adjustments to built space, this field is questioning the ideological, epistemological and practical underpinnings of access.
The Disability Meets Architecture project builds on other activities by both partners, including:
The Critical Access Primer- with summaries, commentaries, and audio-visual materials on Critical Access
Labs for Liberation Summer School (June 2025) by the Critical Design Lab
DisOrdinary Architecture’s compendium Many More Parts than M! Re-imagining disability, access and inclusion beyond compliance.
And aims to develop an online repository of conversations, that can richly inform and support more inclusive and accessible design practices.
Keep your eyes on our DisOrdinary Architecture resource page here for the four podcasts!