Access to the historic environment : meeting the needs of the disabled people

Access for diabled people in historic settings is more than just a temporary ramp over the front steps for a wheelchair user. It is a commitment to create integrated use and enjoyment of cultural and civic historic monuments for everyone, including people with mobility or sensory impairments, the elderly, parents with small children or those temporarily disabled as a result of illness or injury. Access legislation is already in place in many countries and will shortly be implemented in the UK, resulting in increased pressure to improve access to historic buildings. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Dedication......Page 3 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Illustration credits......Page 15 1. A Pattern of Change......Page 16 What is disabled access?......Page 17 Equal treatment vs special treatment......Page 19 Why make any improvement at all?......Page 22 Conservation guidance......Page 27 2. Criteria for Developing an Access Strategy......Page 34 The Disability Discrimination Act......Page 36 Identification and assessment of physical barriers......Page 40 3. Circulation Strategies......Page 50 Choosing the right entrance......Page 51 Front entrance solutions......Page 57 Creating a new public entrance......Page 61 Change of use......Page 64 Extensions......Page 66 Complementary entrances......Page 73 Portable ramps......Page 76 4. Design Considerations......Page 78 Authenticity......Page 79 New ramps and railings......Page 80 Pavement ramps......Page 85 Handrails......Page 86 5. Vertical Circulation......Page 90 Access considerations......Page 92 Conservation constraints......Page 94 Passenger lifts......Page 98 6. Cultural Monuments......Page 106 Country houses, ruins and landscapes......Page 107 Circulation strategies......Page 110 Unroofed monuments and historic landscapes......Page 117 Appendix: Practical Guidance......Page 124 Notes......Page 129 Bibliography......Page 131 Index......Page 132 Access for disabled people in historic settings is more than just a temporary ramp over the front steps for a wheelchair user. It is a commitment to create integrated use and enjoyment of historic monuments for everyone, including people with mobility or sensory impairments, older people, parents with small children, or those temporarily disabled as a result of illness or injury. This book examines flexible and pragmatic solutions to improve circulation in buildings by overcoming level changes, addition of handrails and other facilities which achieve the basic goal of dignified access, and which protect a building's special architectural character. It features practical guidelines and illustrated case study material, with examples of how to improve access in different types of historic buildings including Georgian, and neo-classical buildings, historic monuments, country houses, gardens and landscapes. Examines flexible and pragmatic solutions to improve circulation in buildings by overcoming level changes, addition of handrails and other facilities which achieve the basic goal of dignified access for the disabled, and which protect a building's special architectural character