Barrier-free life center design approaches towards accessibility: Etimesgut Municipality's Barrier-free life center example

In the world, there are people with disabilities who have difficulties in meeting their daily needs due to causes such as congenital or accident, and cannot participate in social life and community life. These individuals, who continue their lives with their physical deficiencies, use the places in line with their daily needs. As a social entity, disabled individuals need and need to take part in social participation by spending time in places for common use such as streets, parks, shopping malls and cinemas. However, public spaces are designed without considering the physical needs of all individuals in terms of common use. Therefore, individuals face numerous obstacles and this causes people with disabilities to experience social, psychological and physical problems. This situation in interaction with the place reduces the quality of life of the people and prevents their participation in society. One of the design approaches for the solution of physical environment related problems experienced by people with disabilities, psychologically and physically; To create "unimpeded spaces". "Universal design", "barrier-free design" and "accessibility" approaches have emerged for independent movement problems related to physical disability, which is accepted as a universal problem. Designs developed in line with these approaches have evolved towards ensuring spatial access and independent movement of physically disabled individuals regardless of their capabilities. With the increasing needs for multiple functions, the expectation of functional diversity, and the desire to make transportation in a short time, centers that gather different spaces together have been formed. Collective or individual activities can be carried out in these centers. One of the spatial reflections designed in parallel with this is; are life centers without barriers. These types of centers bring together users with different capabilities, by ensuring the participation of individuals with disabilities in the society and meeting their needs, as well as the areas of public use. In this research, in terms of design approaches for barrier-free life centers; standards, regulations and principles that provide accessibility and independent movement are discussed. Design values ​​through sample centers; spatial organization is examined in terms of circulation areas, reinforcement and orientation elements. The data obtained in this direction were evaluated as a sample within the scope of the study, in the context of the "Etimesgut Municipality Barrier-Free Life Center".