The Study of disability factor in designing tourism buildings

ABSTRACT The aim of this research work, which consists of seven parts, is to determine the architectural design criteria in tourism buildings, considering the accessibility for the disabled people. In the introduction, the purpose, content and the methodology of the research work is described briefly, The disability concept is described in the second part which is titled people with disabilities. Then disability types, cause of disabilites, disabled population ratios and legal considerations for people with disabilities in Turkey and in the world are explained. In the third part, A description of tourism, types of tourism and features of tourism buildings are covered. Additionaly, participation opportunities and obstruction factors for the disabled people are studied. Samples from developed countries and the body of the current law for tourism in Turkey are also studied in this part. In the fourth part, tools and accessories used by disabled people and their dimensions and the general design criteria for the disabled people are evaluated. In the fifth part, Architectural design criteria in tourism buildings for the disabled people, outdoor settings, building entrances, circulation areas, accessible guestrooms designed for the disabled people in accomodation facilities and indoor shared areas are scrutinized. A field study has been performed within this research work aiming to discover appropriateness of accessibility of existing accomodation facilities in Turkey. The survey is carried out in ten five-star hotels in Istanbul, that involves outdoor settings, building entrances, circulation areas, accessible guestrooms designed for the disabled people. The results of the survey are displayed in the sixth part. In conclusions and suggestions part, a general evalutaion is made according to information collected from the field study and diffrerent solution suggestions are discussed. Keywords: Tourism buildings, disabled people, design criteria for the disabled people, tourism for disabled people, hotels, xiu