Mikkel Hjort
Modtager af et rejselegat på 30.000 kr.
Sådan integreres universelt design i designprocessen
Formålet med Mikkel Hjorts forskningsophold er at videreudvikle og forbedre eksisterende metoder til vidensformidling og anvendelse af tværfaglig viden gennem en evidensbaseret designtilgang.
Under forskningsopholdet vil Mikkel undersøge, hvordan viden kan formidles mellem forskning og praksis. Det skal ske gennem udviklingen af en metode baseret på den evidensbaserede designproces. Under sit ophold på Texas A&M University er han desuden inviteret til at indgå i undervisningen, og han håber herigennem at opnå yderligere viden om vidensformidling i forbindelse med kurset Active Living.
Mikkel har været i løbende og positiv dialog med School of Architecture ved Texas A&M University, som har tilbudt ham et forskningsophold fra 25. marts til 5. april 2024.
Se pitchen nedenfor.
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Mikkel Hjort
's undersøgelse
Mikkel er gået i gang med sin undersøgelse i USA. Nedenfor kan du læse indlæg fra hans rejse undervejs, hvor han beskriver sine erfaringer og den indsigt, han indtil videre har opnået.
March 2024
March and April 2024
Texas A&M
My visit is a collaboration between the two research groups at the School of Architecture, Design Research for Active Living with Professor Chanam Lee and and Evidence-Based Laboratory with Professor Kirk Hamilton at Texas A&M.
I have had meetings with the two professors. In addition, I have attended classes and participated in critiquing the students’ projects. I have also given a a presentation to staff and students at Texas A&M. I also meet a bunch of staff members I had interesting conversations with.
Knowledge from the trip will be produced in different ways. I’ve written a popular science article about what it takes to make the design process focus more on universal design. The article is published in Byrumsmonitor and can be found here: https://byrummonitor.dk/Debat/art9903900/Hvorfor-h%C3%A6ver-forskning-i-universelt-design-ikke-arkitekternes-arbejde-En-del-af-skylden-ligger-hos-bygherrerne
I’m currently working on a scientific article about evidensbased design in collaboration with Kirk Hamilton. The scientific article will be published in the end of the year.
Mikkel Hjort: We had to create a space that works for everyone
Using Universal Design and evidence-based design, Mikkel Hjort designed accessible gardens for patients at a psychiatric center in Denmark.
Main findings
“Based on existing theories like the stress reduction theory, the project team and I were able to improve the outdoor area and adapt it to the patients’ needs. The two gardens had room for sitting alone as well as an active space for doing social activities. When walking around the garden, there was room to interact with other patients, and patients could also sit with their relatives.
Our research indicates that the patients were very content with the gardens. For a short moment, they could forget their daily life struggles. We also showed that it is possible to improve the quality of the outdoor area on a smaller budget.”
The use of Universal Design
“Although the patients might share the same diagnosis, they had very different needs. Some preferred a well-kept garden, while others wanted a wilder and more natural environment, which at times created challenges.
Universal Design requires us to consider everyone’s needs. By listening to their perspectives, we realized that we needed to create a space that worked for everyone and take specific considerations into account.”
Why others should apply
“It was a great experience being part of the scholarship. I highly recommend others to do it, as it was an exciting process to undergo.
My experience was slightly different from others, as I participated in both the Universal Design Hub and the scholarship program. But the scholarship alone would give you an intensive introduction to Universal Design.”