Inclusive architecture

Karmrakhayt Playground is a realized public project located in Yerevan’s Circular Park. With a total area of approximately 2,000 m², it is the largest family-oriented playground in Armenia and the first public space of this scale designed as a continuous play landscape rather than a collection of isolated elements. The project site is historically connected to the Getar River, one of Yerevan’s former natural waterways, which today flows partially in an open canal and partially in an underground collector. Although physically present, the river has disappeared from everyday urban perception, especially for younger generations. The project was conceived as a way to reintroduce this lost natural and cultural layer into the ci... More

The new Student Center at Western Michigan University (WMU) is a beacon of inclusion. Located on lands historically occupied by Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodewadmi nations, the building is designed to be a student-centered gathering place that champions belonging and honors the roots of Native American heritage embedded throughout the site.   Christopher Barrett Laura Peters | CannonDesign Laura Peters | CannonDesign Replacing the Bernhard Center, the new vibrant space is designed to foster connection, community and collaboration for all students. The three-level building features gathering and lounge spaces, dining options, the campus bookstore, an anticipated on-campus brewpub, retail locations such as FedEx and Starbucks, an... More

Commercial property in a 10-story building located on Universitetsgata, right in the heart of Oslo's old town, close to the Royal Palace and Karl Johan street. Pixel & Co The building offers modern, open, and flexible office spaces, and on the top floor, there is a spacious shared rooftop terrace with a view of the city and the fjord. On the ground floor, the property features common facilities such as a cafeteria, dressing rooms with showers, and bicycle parking for the building's tenants. There are also publicly accessible cafes, wine bars, and restaurants, contributing to the vibrancy and activity in the area, even outside regular office hours. Pixel & Co Large portals and winding passageways open towards the courtyar... More

This project was designed through a collaboration between Lemay, Angela Silver, and AtkinsRéalis   Reconnecting Montreal’s city’s historic neighbourhood with its downtown core,  the Place des Montréalaises bridges the sunken Ville-Marie Expressway with through a universally accessible inclined plane of a public plaza. Prominently displaying a floating urban meadow, it offers a tributary bouquet of 21 species of plants which pay homage to 21 women who have shaped Montreal throughout the city’s history.  Vincent Brillant Creating a poetic and inclusive experience, the names of these women also mark the plane’s staircase, and become the conceptual material of the Place des Montr&eacu... More

Former physical considerations to design an office such as the number of workers, frequency of guest visits, or amount of meeting rooms are accompanied now by the discussion of office culture and intangible beliefs of the organization. Isolation in publicity and sharing the private had become new paradigms. A.J Architects Now more than ever, the office needs to be a showcasing interface of dynamic business life while workers can also integrate the feeling of “being at home”: represented by a sense of safety, warmness, and inclusivity. Researchers have also pointed out how people want to spend time in green environments that are also bright and receive enough sunlight during the whole workday. A.J Architects This is m... More

Located in Silt, Colorado within the Mesa View Estates Subdivision, is Mesa View Estates Park. This hidden gem previously featured a compacted pea gravel base beneath it's medium-sized play structure. Newly outfitted with over 2,500 sq. ft. of duraSAFE® Rubber playground tiles, Mesa park is now set for years with a maintenance-free playground surface that offers unmatched durability and a best-in-industry limited lifetime warranty! sofSURFACES More

If you’re in Southeast Florida looking to enjoy a day near or on the water, Sandsprit Park in Stuart, FL is the place! Situated right on the Eastern Coast, this park features a number of amenities for children and pavilions that are available for rent for parties and events. The 3,100 sq. ft. outdoor playground previously featured sand beneath the climbing and play structures. When deciding on what safety surfacing is right for your playground, a few key questions should come to mind: © sofSURFACES Inc. 1) What is the total cost of ownership? 2) What long-term maintenance resources are required? 3) Will it meet accessibility requirements? 4) Will it meet ASTM Fall Protection Requirements? If so, for how long? 5) Will I... More

After several years of dealing with some of the frustrations with poured-in-place surfaces such as: shrinkage, weeds growing through the surface, high maintenance and upkeep costs, hardening and premature wear in most of the high-wear areas, it was time to investigate other surfacing options. © sofSURFACES Inc. With the safety of their students and the rising maintenance costs being their biggest concerns, Pleasant Hill Elementary School landed on our duraSAFE® Plus Series Rubber Playground Tiles. © sofSURFACES Inc. One of the benefits that most attracted them to this type of a system in addition to the long-term cost savings is that duraSAFE offers a best-in-industry limited lifetime warranty on the tile – w... More

Just 45 miles from Denver and 17 miles from Boulder, sits Nederland Elementary School – uniquely nestled into the Colorado mountain-side some 8,000 feet above sea level. Located on Sundown Trail, this school is surrounded by vast National Forests offering majestic views of peaks over 10,000 feet high. This is perhaps one of the most exclusive locations you might find for an elementary school! This unique and sprawling building footprint offers the children of Nederland four fully accessible play areas – all at different elevations. The bold use of vibrant colors are accentuated with the breathtaking views of Boulder Valley. In total, these massive play areas feature over 13,000 square feet of duraSAFE® Rubber Playground Til... More

Another beauty in Oakland, CA! Welcome to Montclair Park! This park is nestled in a mature treed area and features two separate play surfaces with nearly 7,000 sq. ft. of duraSAFE® Rubber Playground Tiles. Installed over granular with a curved stone and concrete perimeter, this one is worth seeing! © sofSURFACES Inc. © sofSURFACES Inc. © sofSURFACES Inc. © sofSURFACES Inc. More

Featuring a number of unique play devices, this park removes barriers to all who want to play! Many of the play areas include structures that can be enjoyed by not only children with differing abilities and those with assistive devices, but also by family and friends that are with them to provide care. Some of the park's special features include an in ground trampoline and an inclusive spinner that users can wheel or walk onto. Adaptive swings for individuals and groups are also available for children of all ages and abilities. Perhaps the best feature of all though, are the accessibile routes that lead to all of the play areas. Gabriel Park is now the perfect place for children to make friends and explore their abilities while playing sa... More

The expansion of Musholm represents the fulfilment of the Danish Muscular Dystrophy Foundation’s long-standing dream to create an internationally leading holiday and sports centre for people with disabilities. Voted the world’s most socially inclusive building and highlighted the world over as a breakthrough in accessible architecture, the expansion has boosted the perception of the Danish Muscular Dystrophy Foundation as a forward-looking disability organisation. "This amazing space clearly demonstrates that buildings can easily be beautiful and disability-friendly at the same time. I mean, you really want to be here," - Mette Bock / Former Danish Minister for Culture. Like ripples in the waterMusholm is situated by the Great... More