Urban design for disabled people

Abstract

Defining outdoor space dimensions and standards in respect to disabled people's requirements and redesign of selected outdoor space components in respect to these standards is the main subject of this research. It is important that just "outdoor open space" is the main concern of the research. For this reason at first, starting point of the research, "Universal Design" explained with its guidelines and principles in detail, then, importance of disabled people's participation in social and economic life and reasons of increase in their population is emphasised. After, general terminology, definitions, and dimensions of outdoor space components and disabled people's are given. Outdoor space components are defined and then, their design and maintenance guidelines, standards are given. At the end, Izmir City Centre is selected as a project area and absence and faults of existing outdoor built environment in respect to disabled people requirements defined . In project, selected outdoor space components that are not correspond standards are redesigned in accordance with design guidelines and standards.