Exploring visual impairment through the built environment.
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Date
2023
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Abstract
Visual impairment can present itself as a tough challenge in a human's life, and navigating the
built environment independently is often one of the biggest obstacles to be approached. Not
being able to perceive the environment around one and having an absence of a strong
relationship or bond to the spaces one encounters leads to visually impaired people feeling lost
in space. These issues get exacerbated by the gross insufficiencies of the built environment in
its response to being inclusive for the visually impaired. This is often caused by the modern
architectural approach, which did not factor in significant consideration for the other senses
within their designs and favoured an ocular-centric approach that gave much preference to the
sense of sight in architecture. As a result of the isolation in space, visually impaired people end
up being excluded from the built environment and even other activities that may take place
within buildings due to the lack of inclusivity within many different architectural typologies.
This dissertation will explore how the built environment can respond more to visual
impairment. The framework of the research will be formulated through the literature covering
the theories of Phenomenology, Place theory, Universal Design and Multi-sensory design.
These theories will more profoundly explore the human senses' role in the perception of the
built environment. Understanding how architecture can respond will assist in making the built
environment more inclusive for the visually impaired and strengthen the relationship of the
senses to space to make architectural design more meaningful.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.