Close to the residents: this is what universal design can look like

Based on the residents' perspectives, the project examines Common space — life between houses in a universal design perspectivehow to promote, with resident involvement, a more inclusive and caring urban area in future design practices in the general sector.

The project will run over two years from November 2024 to the end of October 2026 and is based on the residential area of Toveshøj in western Aarhus. As a central part of the project, a series of universal design walks are carried out. Existing and potential future residents are invited to the walks, divided by, for example, age, gender, cultural background, disability and disability. The goal is to ensure a broad representation of resident experiences that can contribute to a more inclusive design practice.

The project will concretely produce a design catalogue with examples of universal design measures in the common spaces in general in the general sector. And that it was this project that was selected to receive money must be found, among other things, in this close dialogue with current and future residents of Toveshøj, as well as in the project's focus on the common areas and activities that take place in the residential area. This is according to research director at the Bevica Foundation, Camilla Ryhl, who is part of the working group in the partnership that selected the winners.

“The project speaks directly to our and the National Building Fund's overall goals by contributing very concretely to a professional boost about universal design into the general sector and at the same time ensuring that universal design is experienced meaningfully for the residents who live there.”

She is supported by Steen Birkedal, Director of Operations at Landbyggefonden.

“We are constantly working to future-proof the public housing and residential areas. With the various research projects, we become more aware of how to translate universal design into concrete physical and scalable renovations. This and the other project will, among other things, contribute to how we can implement the use of universal design meaningfully when working with major renovation and construction cases.”

The project will receive one million DKK from the partnership during the project period. The project is conducted under the direction of Ole B. Jensen, Professor of Urban Theory, Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, AAU, and Carsten Hvid Nielsen, Aalborg University (AAU), Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology.