By Birger Agergaard

An Italian Housing Project focuses on Abilities, not Disabilities

Designers and architects can reach better results if they work together with the people who are going to live in the houses and flats they design,” says Paola Bucciarelli of the Italian firm of architects and designers, HBgroup, which is behind the project design of two flats in the Milan suburb of Rozzano. The ‘Abri’ project is followed with considerable interest by Italian experts and may provide the model for more flats of the same type. Knowledge of accessible housing is very limited in Italy, says the designer.

Another unusual feature of the ‘Abri’ project is the coherent way it involves the users: 17 adult disabled people and their families.

Abilities – not Disabilities

Explains Paola Bucciarelli: "As architects and designers, we are convin-ced that we must work together with parents and educators in order to get accurate information about the actual needs of different types of flat users. Also, we are sure that people with disabilities have great potential, but they must have the proper support to be successful."

"To get a better understanding of user needs and to be able to design suitable modifications and adaptations of objects and domestic environments, we focused on our 17 users’ abilities – not their disabilities. The method we used was to supply them, their families and educators with a questionnaire."

The questionnaire focused on:

1. General information
2. Communication activities
3. Movement activities
4. Learning and applying knowledge
5. Use of assistive technology devices
6. Self-care and domestic activities

The answers provided the HBgroup with valuable information, which will be rediscussed periodically, once the solutions adopted have been monito-red. The Group has ongoing discus-sions with the users, their families and the staff of the A.GE.HA (an association of disabled peoples’ parents) and other experts.

The information on user needs and abilities gleaned from the questionnaire is now being projected into the two flats, the aim being to satisfy implicit and explicit needs to the greatest possible extent.

For the HBgroup, the aim was:

• to clarify the user needs
• to enhance disabled people’s autonomy and improve their daily living skills

Of the 17 users, nine suffer from Down’s Syndrome, three have spastic quadriplegia and the others have various cognitive impairments.

Light and Colours

The flats have broad, logical walking routes, while colours and symbols contribute to a better understanding of daily tasks.

As between 60 and 80% of all Down’s Syndrome sufferers have problems with eyesight and hearing, the designers found that conducting interviews helped them identify the light and colours best suited to the inhabitants.

Paola Bucciarelli stresses that designers have not reached any standard in this particular area, since requirements differ significantly; but, in general, it is important to avoid glare and shadows, to adopt a higher level of lighting and to use lamps fitted with dimmers, which enhance the ability to perceive colour contrasts.

Future Projects

Before the users move in, they, their families and the A.GE.HA educators will evaluate the various elements and the use of the flats. This evaluation is expected to provide useful informa-tion for application in future HBgroup projects.

The Abri project is a pilot that is attracting considerable interest in Italy. And new experimental housing projects are on the way.

Explains Paola Bucciarelli: “Together with the municipality of Roz-zano, we are evaluating the possibility of using this experience to improve solutions for enhanced independent living for elderly people.”

No Knowledge

"At the moment, Italy is considered to have satisfactory laws, as recent Ita-lian legislation considers the needs of wheelchair users as well as those of people with sensory impairments."

"Seen from a practical point of view, we believe the problem to be that architects and designers do not have any direct knowledge of the problems, needs and requirements of disabled people. Another problem is that universities, schools of architecture and schools of design are not aware of people with special needs."

Facts

The two 45 square metre flats are presently under construction. They stand on the ground floor of a new building planned to be completed in December 2000. One flat (dubbed casaTec) is designed for people with severe disabilities and a limited degree of self-sufficiency. The other flat (casaSof) was created with people, who are more independent, in mind. Both flats are accessible to users with physical disabilities and are equipped with home automation devices.

Published in Crisp & Clear No. 2, July 2000