The "innovative" Sustainable Design

 

One of the very controversial terns during the last 20 years, is "Sustainability".. which many claim to comprehend, practice and apply.. In fact, very few actually do.. People is the 1st pillar of sustainability, which means to be the priority in defining or auditing design and delivery processes. We have to emphasize on the "innovative" Sustainable Design before addressing the Sustainable Construction; which only and currently focuses on the "easy" decarbonization..

Kevin AbbottKevin Abbott   • 1stPremium • 1stUrban Design, Development and Placemaking Specialist, and now a AuthorUrban Design, Development and Placemaking Specialist, and now a Author20 hours ago • Edited • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn

How to teach the importance of design
As an urban designer, or anyone involved in developing, designing, or managing public spaces, the importance of equitable access should never be questioned. Yet, I’ve lost count of the number of times plans come back from consultants without this issue clearly addressed.
And when inspecting works underway, I’ve often had to pull up contractors before they deliver kerb drops that meet ‘the standard’ but fall short of providing true equitable movement.
Standards are just the start, not the final solution, when creating new places or retrofitting existing ones. What makes the biggest difference is when both design and construction teams understand what equitable access really means. That’s when outcomes improve beyond compliance.
How do we get there?
I’ve been known to head to a hospital, second-hand shop, or even a kindergarten to gather devices that people rely on, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, strollers, and then give them to the project team at kick-off. Everyone takes turns navigating with them, even holding a child (or a substituted bag of grain), and they quickly discover the flaws in our built environments, even ‘the standard’ designs.
Go on try it, in the next public realm project give this approach a go – it’s guaranteed to change how everyone addresses equitable access. There is no better way to build empathy than to become the person navigating those challenges. This exercise doesn’t just create better design, it builds engagement with the whole team and community, not just the abled.
One day, any of us may need to rely on equitable access when we least expect it. Wouldn’t it be good if it’s done right, and with care?