Designing from Difference: An Interview with DisOrdinary Architecture Project
In the last decade, DisOrdinary has explored the often ignored experiences that varied bodies have in using, occupying and designing architecture and urban space. Their work, in concert with “creative expert” Deaf and disabled artists, begins with an understanding of difference, rather than conceiving of accessibility as a best-practices afterword.
Zoë Ritts: What are some of the fundamental changes that need to occur in the practice of architecture towards a culture of greater accessibility and spatial equity in the built environment?
To ensure change happens, we need to share and understand the complexity of disability discrimination and, when designing, consider “starting from difference” as a way forward. We need to recognise that we have different bodies and move through spaces with a range of needs. We need more disabled people represented in our architecture and design schools, we need to eliminate “internalised ableism” by making our cultures not force disabled people to fit into restricted physical and intellectual mindsets. We need to be honest about what the barriers preventing disabled people from being at the decision-making tables are and how fundamentally this will be changed with a step-by-step equalities action plan. We know disability arts and equality has been more developed in art and culture than in the built environment, so we have set up DisOrdinary to benefit architectural practice, by working with creative disabled artists to engender change. And our experiences have been very positive. Even if disabled architects are not always present, there’s a huge opportunity to work with creative disabled experts. Generally, we need more disabled role models who have experience and skills to share and who want to change mundane access solutions.
- Zoe Partington
