ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC SPACE

Redesign of Redbergsplatsen with focus on accessibility for the visually and/or audially impaired.

Team members: Jens Andersson

The frame of the project was to identify features and designs which were believed to have room for improvement in terms of usability and accessibility for primarily the sight and hearing impaired. However, with design for all thinking in mind the suggested solutions should also be an improvement for anyone, regardless of ability.

Concepts created in Adobe Photoshop

Additional visual signals via new bollards were implemented, allowing one to be able to look around but still at most times have a signal in the periphery. This solution could also be of use for a person with deficient vision, as having more light sources on both sides of the crossing would make the signals easier to observe. The lights in this concept are placed at a lower height than the already existing ones, making them easier to notice for certain people, such as wheelchair users and children.

A tactile map detailing the amount of lanes in the current crossing is placed on top of the bollard, to facilitate orientation and traversing the road as a visually impaired pedestrian.

As the area was perceived as a quite busy place with no obvious logic in layout, a need for an improved overview emerged. Hence, to simplify navigation and orientation, a visual and tactile map was added at the entrance of the area. This provides a description of the area layout, locations of bus stops and in general illustrating where to find what.

Current situation

Conceptual changes

A white tactile paving along the walkway was introduced to clearly mark the path, contrasting against the ground, as well as enabling the possibility to follow the tactile walkway using a white cane. Railings were added between the vertical posts, where missing, to prevent accidents. In addition to this an extra railing between each post was added at ground level for easier identification and navigation with a white cane.