An Evaluation Tool for Physical Accessibility of Cultural Heritage Buildings

Abstract

Persons with disabilities (PWD) account for 10–15% of the world’s population. The lack of accessibility in the built environment imposes a constraint on its use by these individuals. In heritage buildings, this restriction includes access to other main qualities in addition to use. This problematic issue has been dealt with in different sectors, especially in the tourism sector. The objective of this study is to design and implement a physical accessibility assessment tool adapted to the particularities of heritage buildings. The methodology consists of two phases. In the first phase, the tool and the necessary instruments for its use are designed. Accessibility levels are also established. In the second phase, the tool is applied to a sample size of 45 buildings. The results show the tool and related instruments, as well as the data obtained from the analysis of the sample: identified barriers, the level of accessibility of the entire sample, and the level of accessibility by architectural typologies. The conclusions and discussion reflect on the utility of this tool, the feasibility of its extension to other domains, and the relevance of the information obtained from the sample to improve accessibility in architectural heritage.

A study to depict challenges and opportunities building industry professionals face when designing inclusive and accessible buildings

“…Quantitative methods are a commonly used in social research and have been used in a variety of contexts to explore attitudes, behaviours, and experiences of different groups of people. As an example, a study published in the Journal of Sustainability describes the use of a quantitative tool to depict the level of accessibility in the area of the built environment (Marín-Nicolás and Paz Sáez-Pérez 2022 ). Similarly in the healthcare field, there have been attempts to map physical accessibility scales through quantitative methods (Groenewegen, Kroneman, and Spreeuwenberg 2021 ).…”

Analysis of the Accessibility Improvement Index in Urban Areas through Heritage Buildings Used as Museums—Case Studies in the Region of Murcia (Spain)

“…To carry out the audit, a catalogue of 238 potential architectural barriers is defined, encompassing all the difficulties that can arise in the physical environment related to mobility, grasping, orientation, and communication [14]. The list of barriers is obtained from state regulations on accessibility in the built environment [107,108] and complemented by regional regulations, with the barriers derived from legal parameters [73].…”

“…This point of view is based on the premise that historic buildings were built with different design criteria and requirements than today, and this does not allow for the incorporation of accessibility criteria [70]. However, there are numerous examples of studies and interventions in monuments to improve their accessibility [68,[70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77]. These interventions can enhance accessibility without damaging the building.…”

Engelli Bireyler İçin Kentsel Tarihi Alanlarda Erişilebilirliği Arttırmaya Yönelik Peyzaj Tasarım Yaklaşımları: Göbeklitepe Ören Yeri (Şanlıurfa) Örneği

“…Bu tarz zorlukların yaşanmaması ve toplumun bütün bireylerinin kentsel yaşamda eşit derecede yaşayabilmesi için erişilebilirlik tanımı karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Erişilebilirlik, fiziki açıdan bakıldığında toplumun tüm bireylerinin başkalarının yardımı olmadan toplumsal yaşama dahil olabilmeleri, güvenli olarak kamusal alanlara ve kamu hizmetlerine ulaşabilmeleri şeklinde tanımlanabilir (Marín-Nicolás ve Sáez-Pérez, 2022). Kentsel alanlarda engelli bireylerin toplumun tüm kesimleri ile bu alanların tamamına erişebilirliğinin eşit olması gerekmektedir.…”