The Inclusive City : Content: Photos

Photos

Selected photos from case studies, Daniel Iacofano and Susan Goltsman

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Policy Framework

Urban decision-making should be guided by a progressive policy framework that goes beyond the traditional land-use emphasis of city planning, balancing community good with the “right to develop.”

Revitalizing Downtowns

Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon, is an active community gathering space in a fareless transit zone, the community response to a planned ten-story parking lot in the middle of town—transit is free and if you want to park, the price is steep.

In Portland, Oregon, transit-oriented development has brought new vitality to an older part of the city where warehouses, industrial operations, art galleries, offices and residences now co-exist.

After sitting vacant for almost two decades, a $38 million renovation of the historic Davenport Hotel spurred tremendous investment and revitalization in downtown Spokane, Washington. Photo: Steve Dawson III

The new American West Bank faithfully followed Spokane’s Downtown Design Guidelines, and won second place in the 2005 International Masonry Competition as a commercial building with intricate masonry not usually seen in new buildings. Photo: Mick McDowell Projects

Community Involvement

People with disabilities have always known that a simple architectural design change can make all the difference in being able to self-sufficiently navigate and use a building—the new Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, California, is leading to new ways the philosophy of independent living is informing design and architecture.

The community determined the siting of buildings and park elements at Edison Elementary School in Glendale, California. The shared-use park/school includes classrooms, a gymnasium, multi-lingual library, hard court and turf play areas, and community center with meeting rooms, game rooms and labs, all open to the community during non-school hours. Photo: City of Glendale

During focus groups, children worked with geometric shapes to help determine who sits where in courtrooms at Edelman Children’s Court in Los Angeles. For example, they moved the court reporter out of the middle because they felt that person was staring at them angrily, not realizing the reporter was simply concentrating on what they said.

Inclusive Design

Viewing the building through the eyes of children led to the Edelman Children’s Court building in Los Angeles, designed to begin the healing and family reunification process for children in the dependency system. Shelter care now includes private interview rooms, a library, solitary play areas, outdoor play area, indoor/outdoor eating areas, and this teen conversation area.

At the Musee des Beaux Arts in Calais, France, the visually impaired rediscover art through touch and audio commentary, autonomously and at their own pace, during regular museum hours. Photo: Coco Raynes Associates

The children’s play area in Chase Palm Park, Santa Barbara, California, features breaching whales and a rolling wave wall for parents to sit nearby.

To children, a stuffed animal is just a real and important as a live animal; children at the Hamill Family Play Zoo, part of the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, get a taste of what it’s like to help sick animals.

Adventure play applied to a children’s zoo results in cooperative play, learning about animal homes and fun for all ages at the Hamill Family Play Zoo.

A backyard stream at the Hamill Family Play Zoo is a favorite spot for the entire family to learn about river animals and cool off on hot summer days.

Cultural Context

The 1916 Central Steam Plant provided downtown Spokane with steam heat for 70 years, then remained vacant for more than a decade. An enormous restoration project retained the original building and turned the coalbunker into high-tech office space and massive boilers into a coffee shop, restaurant and shop. The restoration then grew to include adjacent vacant buildings and won a National Preservation Honor Award. Photos: Steve Dawson III

The gritty industrial quality of this landmark signal tower on R Street in Sacramento provides inspiration for the detailed streetscape design palette made of metal, concrete, glass and cobblestones.

Design Guidelines

Design guidelines for play areas create spaces for play and learning, where children of all abilities can develop social, physical and cognitive skills.

Detailed design guidelines for trail systems describe multi-use trails that include shoulders for runners.

Park system design guidelines are based on “placemaking,” creating public spaces intentionally designed for social interaction and community identity, sited to take advantage of natural preserves.