DAY 10 // INCLUSIVITY BADGE FOR CULTURAL SPACES

As part of our design handbook, we have proposed a cultural spaces inclusivity badge that allows cultural spaces to be recognised as inclusive spaces. The simple design is an easy way for members of the public to recognise any building that is part of the inclusive cultural spaces network.

//DAY 07 DESIGN GUIDE DEVELOPMENT

Following the informative workshop with the consultation group and staff at the Manchester Museum, we have moved on to working on the content of the design guide that is to be presented to the external collaborators on Friday.

Working in a variety of graphic styles, today’s session was focused on producing visuals that are representative of the points that came out of yesterday’s session. Our main aims were to produce a map that establishes a route for inclusive cultural spaces in Manchester, develop conceptual models of one possible entrance to Manchester Museum, and to collate sketches based on the case study research.

// DAY 02 SITE VISITS

Following discussions with the consultation group, we began the day by exploring how some of the themes could be communicated visually through the use of sketches and diagrams. Our meeting with the consultation group clarified the difference between the cultural and architectural barriers that are encountered in cultural spaces.

The groups were split into smaller groups working on the themes of how the approach, entrance and foyer area of a cultural building could be designed to be more inclusive for members of the public who are or have been homeless.

Once ideas were fed back to the larger group, the second half of the day was spent on a site visit to Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Central Library and Castlefield Gallery. The site visits provided an opportunity to gain greater insight into the role of cultural spaces and to speak to members of staff. As a group, we analysed existing strategies within these spaces and looked at how solutions concerning the approach, entrance and foyer could be applied to these buildings.

The final product of our two-week event of talks, collaborations, design sessions and consultations will be a design guide publication.

The publication will consist of consise design guidelines on how new and existing cultural spaces can be adapted to be inclusive towards people who are or have been homeless.

Our collaborators With One Voice and Laing O'Rouke will publish the finished guide on their website, so students will be working as part of a team that'll hopefully impact change in the industry.
The guide will be easily readable and diagrammatic, in a similar style to documents that have been published by CABE.

Following the two-week events programme, there is a possibility that these guidelines will be expanded to incorporate general spaces in an attempt to tackle issues surrounding defensive architecture in the UK.

Atelier: Platform
Undergrad: Oxford Brookes University
Experience: Stride Treglown, PEN Studios

The week-long summit in Manchester was a great opportunity to hear and learn from Global delegates. Each seminar offered a taster of several creative practices which included dance, film and collaborative working.

More info on 'With One Voice' and 2018's delegates can be found on: http://with-one-voice.com