Through the Eyes of the Unseen: Towards Inclusive, Walkable Neighbourhoods Through Distributed Recreational Architecture

Abstract

Opportunity. Equity. Community. Two legs, two arms, eyes that see, ears that hear. How long would you last if you closed your eyes and tried to navigate your local supermarket, your local gym, or even your home? I managed ten steps before stubbing my toe on the corner of the dining table. Blindness is just one of the different disabilities many New Zealanders face. Navigating an urban environment catered to people without disabilities leaves many restricted in their lives. One in four New Zealanders deals with a physical, sensory, learning, or mental health disability (Office for Disability Issues, 2023).

Nevertheless, meeting the needs of people with impairments in architecture has often become just a check box to tick; the New Zealand building code, in isolation, is insufficient in providing equitable space for New Zealanders of varying abilities to move freely through the urban environment. As a result, many people who deal with a disability are at higher risk of secondary illness, shorter life (World Health Organisation, 2023), and suicide (Ministry of Health, 2021). As a society, we should constantly seek to improve the inclusivity and walkability of our neighbourhoods. That begins when we centre design around human movement.

Through design-led research, this project explores the potential of distributing recreation interventions within a neighbourhood to improve the accessibility of recreation facilities and social infrastructure integral to a healthy, connected community.