Leading of Public Facilities from Non-Barrier Design to Universal Design

Wenting Dai

doi:10.5539/ass.v5n3p174

Abstract

The universal design is the best way for today’s design of public facilities. It develops from the non-barrier design and turns to be perfect. Starting from concluding the differences of non-barrier design and universal design in practice, this paper analyzes and describes the process of from non-barrier design to universal design, aiming at form a complete, systematic, and correct recognition toward the universal design.

Highlights

The significance of universal designThe universal design is an important way to explore facilities’ more added values in the serving-the-disabled industry
The facilities based on universal design can provide with more convenience for people since they can satisfy people’s needs better
The non-barrier design adopts a repairing design to help the disabled (Fengzheng Tang & Dongyang Liu, 2006), while the universal design is to make out general programs by a preventing design

Summary

The significance of universal design

The universal design is an important way to explore facilities’ more added values in the serving-the-disabled industry. The facilities based on universal design can provide with more convenience for people since they can satisfy people’s needs better. The facilities based on universal design have greater potentials in the field These facilities will generate significant economic effects. The wider the facilities’ inclusiveness, the smaller the hurt on people is Another significance of universal design to the environment is to promote the harmonious coexistence of people. Non-barrier design offers special facilities for vulnerable groups, what will affect common people’s normal use. If certain design can satisfy all people’s needs, everyone can use the facilities . It will offer a communication chance for all people, what may promote the mutual respect and communication between different groups. Universal design helps to solve this issue, which makes our living environment more constant

The differences between universal design and non-barrier design in practice

The different applicable environment for the universal design

Make best use of barrier-free facilities’ material base

Make best use of barrier-free facilities’ non-material base

Conclusion