about
Who are we?
So What is Normal was funded by the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning through Design (CETLD), based in the Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Brighton, UK. The CETLD is a partnership between the university, the V+A museum, Royal College of Art and the Royal Institute of British Architects.
The aim of the centre is to enhance learning and teaching in design through research that brings together resources and expertise from Higher Education and collections-based partners.
The lead researcher for these resources is Dr. Jos Boys, currently CETLD Senior Research Fellow in Learning Spaces at the University of Brighton. The histories section was researched and written by Katie Lloyd Thomas, with support from the British Architectural Library at the RIBA and V&A. The additional snippets, incorporating a disablity-led perspective, were coordinated and mainly written by Sarah Pickthall; with additional material and comments from David Watson (who also provided the glossary), Paul Redfern, David Dixon, Damian Toal, Gwen Webber, Pam Shakespeare, Ruth Morrow and Kathryn Moore.
The SWIN steering group comprised:
- Barry Ginley, Disability and Access Officer V+A Museum
- Jane Oldfield, Deputy Director, British Architectural Library
- Beth Cook/Sharla Mann, CETLD Project Support Officers V+A Museum
- Pamela Edwards, RIBA Architects for Change group
- Cassie Herschel-Shorland, Access and Museums consultant, Buro Happold
Background
This project grew out of a series of interesting connections between disabled and Deaf artists based in and around Brighton - supported by DADA-South, Diablo Arts and Arts Council England South East (ACESE) - and Jos Boys, then teaching in the School of Architecture and Design at the university.
SWIN has two sister projects, Making Discursive Spaces, now completed and Architecture-InsideOut which continues to explore relationships between disability and architecture through generating constructive dialogues between disabled artists and architects.
The intended outcomes from the So What is Normal project are as follows:
i) Provide baseline data on how inclusive design is currently integrated into teaching and learning of architecture, interiors and related subjects in the UK.
ii) Explore what resources exist on disability and the built environment within the partner organisations, centring on the British Architectural Library (BAL) collections at the RIBA and V+A.
iii) Begin to collect narratives from deaf and disabled people about their experiences of the built environment (from existing web, paper, audio and video sources) in collaboration with disability organisations and individuals.
iv) Produce innovative pedagogic research on disability and building design which sets a framework for the development of teaching and learning materials.
v) Develop pilot resources on disability and the built environment; and test these with selected groups of architecture and interior architecture students.
vi) Propose strategies and funding possibilities for future development of disability and built environment resources, following lessons learnt in this project for both university and museum/gallery contexts.
vii) Disseminate materials and outcomes across both HE and museum sectors, so as to inform debate and enable shared learning.
What we did
Stage one: Collecting baseline data:
Current examples of UK HE disability and architecture/design learning and teaching: this project started by updating [research undertaken by the Centre for Education and the Built Environment (CEBE) Special Interest Group])(http://www.cebe.heacademy.ac.uk/learning/sig/inclusive/report.php) in 2002 into inclusive design learning and teaching, in an attempt to build up a picture of the contemporary situation in the UK.
Working from the good practice framework of the Buried in the Footnotes report produced by Leicester University Department of Museum Studies, research was undertaken into potential resources for exploring the history of architecture and disability, via targeted searches of the British Architectural Library online catalogue, supported by library and drawing collection experts.
Current examples of narratives by disabled people on their experiences of the built environment, based on a literature review already undertaken by Jos Boys; and through the involvement of disabled and Deaf artists and others
Stage two: Developing a framework
Critical review of existing attitudes and approaches to disability and architecture, through engaging with both disability studies and contemporary architectural theories and practices.
First stage build of web-site and resources on disability and architectural design, based on the conceptual frameworks and initial content developed. Design of appropriate and fully accessible interface and navigation structure. together with interactive discussion forum.
Agreeing an action plan for testing resources within architectural education and a dissemination programme of the SWIN resources to tutors and students of architecture across the UK.
Stage three: Testing
First stage testing of resources with students and tutors.
Review and improvement of resources
On-going dissemination of research/ evaluation and resources in collaboration with partners, as appropriate.
Stage four: Final reporting and continuation strategy
writing of research reports and conference papers.
Dissemination and networking through relevant organisations such as CEBE, HEA- ADM, SCHOSA, ARCHAOS, GLA, CABE and RIBA. Mail-out to all UK HE architecture and design courses, supported by demonstration as required.
Action plan for embedding resources more widely and obtaining future funding and development
Project reports
Project reports, can be viewed or downloaded from the CETLD So What is Normal site
From Within
Response to spaces comes from a myriad of spaces
- Sarah
Website design
This site has been built in a content management system called Content Curator, which has accessibility to diverse users at its core, rather than as an 'add-on' to a 'normal' site. The CMS is designed by web designers Surface Impression.
With particular thanks to Peter and Nick at Surface Impression.
Contact
Dr. Jos Boys
Senior Research Fellow
CETLD Faculty of Arts and Architecture
University of Brighton
58 - 67 Grand Parade
Brighton BN2 2JY
UK
+44 (0)1273 642899