Until only recently, our studio projects were virtually limitless; asking only for boundless creativity. We were challenged with the implication of codes and standards for our current shelter:bus and bus:shelter projects, which, as we quickly observed, was much harder than one would assume. Although we recognized the use of codes through our everyday use of buildings, we had difficulty understanding and applying them to our projects. Ergonomics was, at first, equally as foggy a topic, but we soon realized that answers could be found in the experiences of our group member, Christyn. With her first hand experience, Christyn was able to describe the challenges and obstacles she endured during her time in a wheelchair. This insight allowed us a solid understanding as to how we could best accommodate handicapped individuals. Through research and experimentation, we realized that our culture has standards of proxemics ground into the instincts of each individual American. While there are texts and diagrams depicting these standards, we were able to develop an clear understanding through role-play and observation.
With our new found understanding of codes and standards, we would strongly push designers to make buildings more assessable. As noted by Christyn, buildings that are “handicap assessable” are not nearly as assessable as they ought to be. While they may not be in violation of code, it is important that designers understand their clients well enough to make their buildings function universally. Codes may not solve this problem, but they certainly help by ensuring a human’s ability to use and interact with a space safely. Our studio has grown accustomed to loose, conceptual designs, to which codes may have seemed a hindrance. It is now clear that their implication is somewhat of a relief, a gateway into functional, universal designs.
4s Group: Ben Adams, Leah Petriccione, Christyn Dunning, and Anna Will
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