אדריכלות ישראלית - גיליון 121

2020 מאי 121 אדריכלות ישראלית | קטגוריית מחקר - 2020 תחרות פרויקט השנה 101 | cognitive accessibility of dedicated frameworks Dr. Michal Tenne Rinda, Natalie Silpin Recent decades have seen worldwide social changes in the field of equal rights for disabled people, legally defined in the "chapter on accessibility" as an addition to the Law of Equal Rights for the Disabled, 2005. The term accessibility is defined as a situation whereby spaces, services and resources facilitate equal, independent, safe and respectful usage for everyone. However, the standards and amendments deriving from this law primarily provide an answer for physical and sensory disabilities (sight and hearing) while environmental design for the cognitively disabled is still far from satisfactory, since such accessibility should focus on extra clear and simplified surroundings in order to provide ways of operating in and navigating space. Research indicates that proper and accurate use of environmental design can be more effective and far cheaper than therapeutic efforts of "fixing" the individual, forcing him – sometimes for years - to adapt to various environments that are not beneficial to him. Adapting the environment to the cognitively disabled is a complex process, particularly in cooperative housing for people with a broad range of varying disabilities. In this framework, architecture plays an important role in terms of spatial functioning, both of residents and the staff who perceive the house not only as a work environment but as a comfortable, pleasant home. Constituting a pilot for an extended study the research will take place in collaboration with specialists in the field of therapy, accessibility, and design. The goal is to provide an optimal answer for functional design and aesthetic issues. This, in order to simplify and enhance a sense of home, promoting independence, and fostering self-efficacy that might contribute to residents' self-esteem. The pilot attempted to answer questions related to how the staff perceives their work environment and, accordingly, their ability to provide the residents with beneficial service. The research was carried out in a cooperative house of 24 mature residents between the ages of 21-60 who deal with complex, cognitive, motoric and sensory disabilities. The building consists of two wings, each with twelve residents and two – three alternating staff members. Based on a staff questionnaire, in-depth interviews, and observation, the research included distinct creative designs between the two wings, each with its unique space division. In order to improve clarity, neutral shades were used in the public areas while stronger colors enhanced personal items to simplify and enable identification. As a resident approaches her private space, she is accompanied by a fixed color signifying her own space and personal possessions. Thus, each bedroom, shared by two residents, contains furniture accentuated by two contrasting colors for the sight impaired. An analysis of the findings emphasized the need to address the issue of accessibility, both in terms of residents’ complex needs and the special needs of the staff. The study proposes to use this pilot as a first step in an expanded study of the subject of cognitive accessibility, hoping that its theoretical implementation may contribute to increased awareness of the correlation between accessibility and environmental design. 1