Simulating Disability in Universal Design Teaching: A Critique - Abandoning Try-It-Yourself in Teaching Universal Design in Architecture.

Blindfolding people and providing them with white cane or placing them in a manual wheelchair for 20-60 minutes is a much used and classic exercise when teaching architects and other professionals the basics of user needs related to disability. This method, called try-it-yourself, is the most prevalent method where universal design in taught in the Nordic region. While the exercise is often praised for ensuring an effective 'eye-opening' outcome, the ethical aspects, the absence of the users themselves or the possibilities of alternative methods for teaching user needs appear to be non-existing. The article is based on literature studies and 1:1 experience gained from our Master program in universal design, where the try-it-yourself exercise is analyzed and discussed. The article argues that the exercise, as opposed to its original intention, appears to increase disability stigma and ethical dilemmas. Hence, it needs to be challenged as the prevalent exercise used for teaching universal design and accessibility. The article also discusses alternative methods for teaching user needs. Furthermore, the article discusses the tacit cultural acceptance of the exercise, as well as the ethical dilemmas in the non-existing debate of what is actually being tried-yourself in the exercise. The article also presents possible reasons for the significant absence of an open critical debate about the pros and cons of the exercise, as it is being used non-critically in the Nordic region.

Vandhalla - A Sport Centre and a Successful Example of First-Generation Universal Design.

The research project 'Evaluation of Vandhalla' is a study of the perceived quality of the new building as well as the design competition and design process leading to the final design. The evaluation focuses on the mindset of the winning entry, the design process, the design solution and the value of Vandhalla. Vandhalla is a sport centre including an indoor swimming pool at the Danish folk high school, Egmont. Empirically, the evaluation is based on qualitative interviews and walkthroughs on site with the architects, the client, personnel and students. The evaluation shows that Vandhalla is a successful example of an inclusive building in Denmark. The paper points at two factors having an impact on the result: the client as a key driver and the understanding of the users. The general use of knowledge as well as the winning design team's use of knowledge in the work with the design is problematized. It is suggested that Vandhalla should be regarded as a contribution to the first generation of Universal Design (UD) in Denmark. The Evaluation was conducted by the authors at SBi Aalborg University and financed by Realdania.

Qualitative Description of Spatial Quality in Inclusive Architecture.

Universal design (UD) has gained global significance and is in the process of institutionalisation in the Nordic Region. This is despite an urgent necessity for developing the theoretical basis and practical applicability of UD. Reflecting this need for furthering the comprehensive understanding of spatial implication of UD, this paper aims to contribute for articulating a means to assess the quality of UD in architecture. Drawing upon numerous cases from research conducted at the Danish Building Research Institute, the paper focuses on sensory aspects of spatial quality, and discusses as well as reflects an applied method for producing the qualitative description of selected buildings that embody UD through creative solutions. The qualitative description of collected examples appears to be effective in delineating sensory aspects of spatial experience; however the systematic development of assessment criteria is essential in order to support students and designers to make responsible decisions in shaping built environments that are accessible and inclusive but also enjoyable.