A 4-dimensional model and combined methodological approach to inclusive Urban planning and design for ALL. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rebernik, Nataša; Goličnik Marušić, Barbara; Bahillo, Alfonso; Osaba, Eneko
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 44(2019)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 214
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: CMA combined methodological approach -- POE post-occupancy evaluation -- BM behavioural mapping -- ICT information and communication technologies -- IoT internet of things -- GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System -- EHSIS European Health and Social Integration Survey -- UNPF United Nations Populations Fund -- PBS public spaces -- PBSU public-space users -- PBSS public-space stakeholders -- PWD persons with disability -- PDCA approach Plan, Do, Check, Act approach -- UXD User Experience Design -- WCAG Web Content Accessibility Guidelines; Open space -- Planning and design -- Inclusion -- Bottom-up -- Ethnography -- Behavioural mapping -- Post-occupancy evaluation; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2018.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: The paper introduces the 4-dimensional model and a combined methodological approach (CMA) towards inclusive public spaces design. The backbone of the CMA is a slow, small and deep-data oriented ethnographic research, complemented with POE and BM as two complementary methods. The CMA has been designed based on four study cases conducted in Slovenia, bringing a set of contextual-based and methodology-based conclusions. The conclusions show that the CMA can serve as a powerful tool for stakeholders to gain deeper understanding of (disabled) citizens and their needs. Abstract: Due to the emerging complexity of cities, this paper argues for a holistic, integrative and relational approach to more inclusive city planning and design to fit the needs of citizens with diverse impairments. It proposes and tests a new theoretical model called the combined methodological approach (CMA). The backbone of this model is an often-overlooked qualitative, bottom-up-driven, slow, small and deep-data-oriented ethnographic research, combined with components or phases of post-occupancy evaluation and behavioural mapping as two user-oriented techniques for assessing usage-space relationships. The paper is rather theoretical, as it focuses on the argumentation of different approaches in city planning, design and governance. However, tests of the proposed model were conducted in public open spaces of four pilot cases in two European cities (Maribor and Ljubljana, in Slovenia). The proposed CMA was tested against its applicability to real urban environments. The results, in accordance with the methodology used, showed that such a combination of often closely related, overlapping and complementary techniques can significantly enhance the understanding of complex relations and interactions between people, space and technology within the city. Hence, it can empower stakeholders towards more informative and responsive measures – and, finally, more inclusive, individualized, tailor-made cities.