EUROPEAN PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND THEIR APPLICATION IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF UKRAINIAN CITIES

Abstract

The values of a solidary and democratic society, based on the principles of equality, significantly influenced the conceptual and practical principles of design throughout the Modern era. To a large extent, the formative base of modernism – the leading worldview trend that defined the architecture of the 20th and early 21st centuries – is connected with them. One of the important stages in the development of this process was the spread since the 1980s "universal design" concept that aimed at creating a more inclusive space, avoiding various forms of isolation and inequality depending on the physical abilities of a person. Currently, theoretical and practical achievements in this area make it possible to talk about a holistic system of views on design, which, however, still remains largely unrealized to the extent that the goals of universal design can be considered generally achieved. Nevertheless, thanks to the implementation of a number of initiatives and programs, inclusive and friendly environments for different groups have begun to emerge in many European cities, which testify to the benefits of the "design for all" concept. In addition to the purely humanistic aspect, it also gives cities advantages in terms of a more complete use of human potential, maintaining a high economic and social attractiveness, which ultimately increases the competitive indicators of the city. This article consists of three principle parts, two of which are reflective and one analytical. In their sequence, they have the following form: a) an outline of the current concepts of universal design, which are present in various initiatives and programs of the European Union and a wider range of sources that create the relevant discourse; b) assessment of issues related to the equality of space in domestic analysis and practice; c) determination of the local specificity of Ukraine, which determines the perspective of applying the principles of universal design. Based on the analysis, have been outlined the main features of a possible strategy for the development of universal design principles in Ukrainian cities, including taking into account the consequences of full-scale russian military aggression, which began in February 2022.