THE REALIZATION

Time to back track...When looking at my work development I realized I have some areas that needed more consideration. The other day I had a magic realization: I was trying to redevelop the Norvella Heights neighborhood. Now, I understand the big picture. I need to use the neighborhood as a guideline to design the intrinsic elements that will create an intergenerational neighborhood. I have to study the relationships of the area to determine the needs of the community based on accessibility. Then, those concepts can be applied to Norvella Heights and any other neighborhood in order to create accessible neighborhoods.

When I mention accessibility I am not only referring to 1:12 ramps and 1/4” entrances. I am talking about the concept of accessibility as areas that can be use by anyone regardless of their age or disability. I see the concepts of my investigation in a diagrammatical perspective and not as a technical exercise. As architects we learned many ways to react to accessibility and there are many codes and books that go into great details of how to achieve the minimal standards. In this quest, I am proposing accessibility as an important component in order to create an active community. The overall experience can be created when combining the minimal standards and the real needs of the community.

During this week I will be revisiting the main concepts of my work (accessibility, active & independent life) in terms of community composition. My goal will be to discover the gaps of my previous investigations and clarify some areas. I will be working with the neighborhood footprint and characteristics in relation with accessible neighborhoods. Then, those findings will be the design patterns and methods I will use to create my contribution to the architectural field.