Barriers in the built environment exclude people with disabilities from participating independently in the surrounding society. Since the mid-1960s, architectural designs have been subject to special regulations in the Swedish building code, originally focusing on access for wheelchair users to public buildings. In the mid-1970s, this focus converged with the first Swedish disability policy and “accessibility for people with locomotory or cognitive problems” of the building code was coined. Building initiatives by organisations in defence of the rights of people with disabilities and documentaries of living conditions for this group prepared for this development. The present study revisits two cases of the 1950s and 1960s that opened for a rethinking of architectural and residential space for frail older people and appropriate housing for young people with mobility impairments. The study uses close reading and critical analyses of textual documentation in combination with spatial analyses of drawings to retrace the awaking among Swedish architects of the need of accessibility in the built environment (Brummett 2010, Lefebvre 1985, Miles and Hubermann 1994). The study suggests that accessible architecture requires user involvement and participatory processes to conceive spatiality that is usable by people with disabilities. At the same time, consultation with people disabilities about design aspects promoting accessibility is threatened by the current Swedish housing crisis and allegations that accessibility requirements would increase building costs. 

References: 

Brummett, B. 2010. Techniques of close reading. SAGE Publications, Los Angeles.

Lefebvre, H. 1985. La production de l'espace. [The production of space]. Anthropos, Paris.

Miles, M. and Hubermann, A. 1994. Qualitative data analysis. SAGE Publications Inc., London.