← Practice & Standards
Accessibility
PRACTICE & STANDARDSbeginner
Definition
The design of buildings so that people of all abilities — including those using wheelchairs, walking aids, or with sensory impairments — can access and use them independently. Most building codes mandate minimum accessibility standards. In the UK this is addressed by Part M of the Building Regulations.
Example
The Pompidou Centre in Paris (1977) was a pioneer of accessibility with ramps, wide circulation, and level entries — radical for a major cultural building of its era.