Course detail

Accessible Architecture

FA-ARB-KEAcad. year: 2022/2023

The course consists of seminars where students will familiarize themselves with the issue of designing public spaces for the persons with limited capability of movement and orientation. They will work out a semestral work in the form of analysis and adaptation of a selected public space in exterior or interior. The course is coordinated with the specialists on accessible architecture.
In the study programmes “Architecture and Urban Design” the course is part of the technical courses.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Department

Department of Spatial Design (UPT)

Offered to foreign students

The home faculty only

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Not applicable.

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course consists of frontal education in seminars, an experiential course, actual work in the field, and development of a seminar paper.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Evaluation consists of submitted semestral work and its presentation.

Course curriculum

Semester block schedule:
  1. Introduction to the needs of the persons with limited capability of movement and orientation in public space in the form of seminars (including experiential courses and self-study), optional excursions
  2. Analysis of selected public space / interior of a building (using the gained knowledge)
  3. Design of appropriate modification of the selected space including the selected architectural details
  4. Final presentation and credits

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Students will learn about the needs of the persons with limited capability of movement and orientation in public space.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

80 % of attendance is compulsory. Students must develop, consult and submit a semestral work.
In the case of a student's apology and with approval of the subject guarantor, personal attendance may be substituted with online attendance in the classes.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

MEUSER, Philipp. Accessible Architecture. Dom Publ, 2012. ISBN: 9783869221700. (EN)
HAMRAIE, Aimi. Building Access: Universal Design and the Politics of Disability. University of Minnesota Press, 2017. ISBN: 9781517901646. (EN)
WHITE, Robert W. Designing a Visible City for Visually Impaired Users: Breaking the Barriers of Disabling Architecture. University of Strathclyde, 2010. (EN)

Recommended reading

MELCHER, Emily. Architecture Without Sight. University of Detroit Mercy, 2019. (EN)
WICKMAN, Ron. Accessible Architecture—Beyond the Ramp. Gemma B. Publishing, 2020. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B_A+U Bachelor's, 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme ARCHURB Bachelor's

    branch ARCH , 4. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme N_A+U Master's, 1. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme NE_A+U Master's, 1. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme NX_A+U Master's, 1. year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme N_A+U Master's, 2. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

4 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Seminar

14 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Field trip

8 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer