Barrier-free architecture
Our cities and homes are often designed in such a way that they push people into dependencies and create barriers. A new perspective in architecture shows how spaces can be designed to be inclusive, supportive and socially connecting.
“Architecture can be brutal,” says Anna Puigjaner, professor at ETH Zurich. Stairs, narrow corridors and standardised living concepts exclude many people. They separate those who can from those who can’t. The standards of architecture, which are often adapted to the classic nuclear family, hardly take into account the diversity of lifestyles. In Switzerland, however, only a quarter of people live in a nuclear family, while alternative living arrangements such as single parents, patchwork families or childless couples are largely ignored.
Making care work visible
One of Puigjaner’s central approaches is to integrate care work from the private sphere into the public infrastructure. Current architecture makes caring, housework and everyday activities a challenge for many people, especially the elderly or those with health problems. Puigjaner calls for care work such as cooking, washing or childcare to be made more accessible to the public in order to reduce dependencies.
Examples such as the “Manzanas del Cuidado” in Bogotá show how libraries have been transformed into multifunctional care centres. Here, kitchens, childcare and laundry services can be found under one roof. In Tokyo and Singapore, public kitchens promote social interaction and reduce care costs.
Architecture that connects
Puigjaner advocates architecture that promotes encounters and integrates habits that normalise support. An environment in which people can cook together or help each other creates interdependencies instead of reinforcing dependencies. Such a concept not only helps older people, but also everyone else in different life situations.
The future of inclusive architecture
“Our built environment should not create barriers, but open up opportunities,” says Puigjaner. This requires a rethink in the planning of cities and buildings. Public infrastructure such as community centres, inclusive housing and multifunctional urban districts could not only reduce social isolation, but also break down existing power structures.
Architecture has the power to remove barriers and promote social participation. By integrating care work into public infrastructure and creating inclusive spaces, a new, unifying architecture can emerge that enables all people to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.