Architecture is not only about making a statement, but about making a statement with purpose. - Woods Group Architects

Welcome to The DesignMind eBrief, brought to you by our sponsors:

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In this edition:

February Community Snapshot

Universal Access - a right or privilege?
Russell Vollmer from 'CapeAble' and Kim Dunbar from 'Dunbar Design' share their insights and expertise on Universal Access - a subject that appears to largely be paid lip service in South Africa.

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Member Spotlight

Kim Dunbar

Kim Dunbar's 'Disability Design' impressed DesignMind as it focuses on designing for the disabled – an intriguing and growing trend within in the industry that will hopefully become more popular. This group sparked much interest, thus inspiring the main article. read more

Thapelo Letsoalo

Look what you can do with your profile pages! Make your profile page your own by customising it to suit you, your personality and design fortè. Check out the profile templates DesignMind offers and become more than the individual you are by following the 'Work the network discussion' where DesignMind will showcase tools and tips to 'personalise your profile page'. read more

Charles Pittaway

Charles Pittaway, an architectural student from the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein has made DesignMind proud this February by achieving 3rd place in the student category in the OpenThinkBox Design Competition. Charles' design was said to be a surreal modular unit, based on the concept of “displaced children who play and sometimes live in storm water pipes.” This design offers an interesting 50x50 square tubing, placed within a grid and joined with a plolyurethane foam adhesive. Charles walked away with a student version of AutoCAD Revit® Architectural Suite design and documentation. read more

Zubair Sader

Inspired by organisations that invest in the upliftment of homeless children through music, dance and theatre, Zubair Sader achieved 2nd place in the student category with his project design which provides a nurturing environment for children to grow and develop through self expression. Zubair wins a student version of AutoCAD Revit® Architectural Suite design and documentation, plus R3000,00. read more

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Decorex SA 2009

Decorex Durban and Hirsch's Kitchen and Bathroom Faire takes the lead to guide you through the maze of design trends and introduce you to our comprehensive collection of trusted décor companies and gifted designers exhibiting the very best.
read more

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Autodesk Revit MEP

Revit MEP is aimed at the Mechcanical, Electrical and Plumbing engineers and it's the 3rd Revit product in the trinity. So now there is a Revit for Architects, Structural engineers and the MEP engineers.
read more

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HELP US SHAPE DESIGNMIND

This is your space, and as creative professionals, we'd love you to help shape it. We're looking for interesting content from you, the Members! Are you busy with, or do you have completed projects you're particularly proud of? Why not shout it out to the design world! Or, perhaps there are some thorny, controversial issues you'd like us to cover?

Please mail us your thoughts - positive and negative, encouraging or outrageous to our team on info@designmind.co.za and we'll work on making this mail and the DesignMind website the premier design industry meeting place.

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You can post Jobs to the DesignMind Network for FREE... click here to see how!

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Are we, as South African Architects, designing with dignity?

2009 is gaining momentum and DesignMind heaved with activity this Valentine's month. We would like to thank you for your continued comments and contributions since it is only through the sharing of ideas and exchanging of opinions that we, as industry professionals, will continually grow and develop.

There are now 300 blog posts on DesignMind, with 'Statistics suggest the profession a white gentlemen's club' evoking the most interest to date. There are now 381 Forums and 52 groups to join. In fact, one of the new groups, Disability Design, provided the inspiration for this month's newsletter. There are also 45 videos to peruse, Athol Phillips having contributed the majority of these. The DesignMind photographic gallery is also steadily increasing. It now boasts an impressive 2444 images, with Elmo Swart being the most avid photographic contributor. MEGA/SCM/00019 is currently the most popular photo on DesignMind. Lastly, make sure you don't miss out by checking out the 63 events diarised.

Not yet a member? Join now and don't miss out on the benefits of connecting and collaborating with your colleagues in the DesignMind community. Registration is easy and membership is only a couple of clicks away.

Nicole Hijbeek and the DesignMind team.

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February Community Snapshot Network > There are 3661 members on DesignMind > 86 new members joined during the past week Photos > Elmo Swart has posted the most photos > Sample of drawing... is the most popular photo to date > There are 2599 photos on DesignMind MarketPlace > MEGA/SCM/00019 is the most popular forum post to date > There are 393 forum topics on DesignMind Events There are 65 events on DesignMind Blog > SACAP Finally Speaks Up is the most popular blog post to date > There are 305 blog posts on DesignMind Groups > There are 54 groups on DesignMind Videos > Athol Phillips, Autograph Design Technologies has posted the most videos > Renvan Architectural Animations 2009 is the most popular video to date > There are 45 videos on DesignMind Tenders > There are 153 tenders posted on DesignMind Jobs > There are 39 job offers on DesignMind > There are 145 people looking for jobs on DesignMind

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Universal Access - a right or a privilege?

How would you like to enter public buildings - via a back alley, past the trash or perhaps through the kitchen? It sounds inconvenient, unpleasant and undignified, but it's a common scenario faced by many people with a handicap on a daily basis.

As human beings, we all have the right to access public buildings in a dignified manner. Yet all too often it seems that aesthetic considerations or a lack of awareness ensure that such buildings are not capable of servicing everybody's access needs equally.

The passionate duo Russell Vollmer from 'CapeAble' and Kim Dunbar from 'Dunbar Design' share with us their practical expertise and insights regarding designing buildings with dignity.

Are there regulations governing Universal Access in South Africa?
The National Building Regulations driven by The South African Building Standards govern legislation in regard to Universal Access. The term 'Universal Access' has been employed to encourage inclusive design that suits the needs of everyone rather than design employed to suit a specific sector of the public. Part SS of the S.A.B.S 0400:1990 code of practice and the S.A.B.S 0246:1993 amendments to the code, which fall under Part S of the National Building Regulations, serve as a code of practice to enhance regulations. However, such guidelines are open to interpretation and this is where problems arise.

If such legislation is in place, why are many public buildings unable to meet many people's access requirements?
Poor or misguided interpretation is one problem, another is a lack of monitoring during the building process. Cost is always a very real and key concern and, as long as there are no monitoring bodies or authorities in place to check that the plans that were passed in terms of Universal Access are effectively implemented, then people will continue to take short cuts.

Is there a difference between South African legislature and European or American legislature with regard to Universal Access?
In 1986, South Africa drafted and implemented design criteria to fit our situation using best practice principles and by referring to other countries' standards. However, this legislature has not been revised since then. The good news is that we are in the process of a revision, but it's not clear when the new act will be officially passed.

What are the most common mistakes people make when it comes to designing buildings with Universal Access?
• Toilets that are too small are purchased to shave costs and grab rails are often placed incorrectly or inconveniently in relation to the toilet. Toilets also need to comply with the height of wheelchairs for easy access.
• There are often no soap or hand towels in the toilet cubicles for those with disabilities. These also need to be installed at the correct height for a person in a seated position.
• Ramp gradients are often far too steep for people in wheelchairs who do not have assistance.
• In older buildings, toilets for people with disabilities are usually only found on the ground floor - a previously short-sighted strategy for the wheelchair-bound person visiting the 16th floor.

People also only think in terms of wheelchair access – there are many other disabilities and scenarios that need to be addressed to ensure that a building can be considered Universally Accessible. The needs of people with visual, hearing or multiple impairments are often not considered. For instance, has adequate and clear signage for those with a hearing impairment been provided? Or alarms for those who are visually impaired?

How can Universal Access be adequately addressed by architects without compromising aesthetic ideals?
With some simple, but creative thought. Universal Access does not require that all buildings look like hospitals and the word 'grab rail' should not automatically be associated with stainless steel.

New buildings are easier to design for Universal Access. It can be a little more challenging when doing refurbishments where one has to work with an existing structure as things can often look like they have been tagged on.

Heritage buildings are also sometimes a compromise in terms of universal access as certain things cannot be modified.

Are their any institutions/companies in South Africa that offer support or training on designing buildings for Universal Access?
This is unchartered territory in the training field and needs to be addressed. Such training should really be added to architectural degrees and the content be kept up-to- date. 'CapeAble' is currently in the process of proposing a training programme to AASA Cape Town to fall in line with the Continual Development Programme for industry people. Should there be an interest and demand for this in Johannesburg, we will propose to AASA Johannesburg too.

What exactly do the two of you do and offer?
We offer the complete solution to making a building or home Universally Accessible from A – Z. I, Russell of 'CapeAble' start by doing an audit of the building. Based on the audit, I write a report and offer recommendations. Kim of 'Dunbar Designs', then takes the report and recommendations and draws up the plans, which include space considerations, shape and dimensions and a comprehensive installation plan. She is also equipped to do the installations.

List your top eight ways of making a building Universally Accessible.
1) Get professionals in to plan
2) Ensure ramps are in the front of buildings and that they are a workable gradient for those who may not be assisted.
3) Swing doors are a nightmare for people who require the use of a wheelchair. Automated sliding doors are ideal.
4) Ensure that there are enough toilets in the building to cater for people with disabilities and that they are appropriately positioned.
5) Lifts need to be an appropriate size for a wheelchair and a person assisting the person in the wheelchair. Lift companies today offer the full package for the hearing and visually impaired. Be sure that you comply across disabilities.
6) Door handles and control mechanisms need to be placed at the correct height to cater for those of a shorter stature and people in a seated position.
7) It is not just about the building! Staff need to be trained, especially security staff, to assist people with disabilities in normal situations and during emergency procedures.
8) High Rise buildings should have an emergency area and lift to accommodate those with disabilities in a crisis. This has been made law in America since 09/11.

What do you think about the way the principal of Universal Access is being addressed in South Africa? Should more be done or is that unrealistic? Is the architect or developer more to blame? Post your comments here or visit the Disability Design group to share your views or to contact Russell or Kim for further information.

Post your comments here