Dis/Ordinary Spaces

Dis/Ordinary Spaces is a one-day conference exploring ways of approaching disability differently. Participants will imagine access and inclusion as creative generators, not merely as technical or legal ‘problems’ for architectural design.

The event is an opportunity for architectural students, practitioners and educators to engage with disability studies scholars, activists and artists and to discuss innovative ways of designing for our various ways of being.

The keynote speaker will be renowned disability scholar Aimi Hamraie, whose most recent publication is Building Access: Universal Design and the Politics of Disability. Aimi's talk, Critical Access Studies and Socio-Spatial Practice, will challenge conventional modes of access-making related to disability. The talk will also suggest how disability and access can act as a cultural critique, with implications for both design practice and built environment research.

Presentations will also be given by Kim Kullman (Open University), Leo Care (University of Sheffield, School of Architecture), Professor Barbara Penner (The Bartlett School of Architecture) and Dr Jos Boys (The DisOrdinary Architecture Project). Each speaker will critically explore attitudes towards and examples of design for access and inclusion. There will be opportunities for discussion and debate, followed by drinks.

This event is a collaboration between The Bartlett School of Architecture and The Dis/Ordinary Architecture Project and is funded by Arts Council England and the Architecture Project Fund of The Bartlett. 

Attendance is free, but a copy of your ticket is required.

* Please note the date of this event has changed from Friday 16 March to Saturday 17 March in support of strike action taking place by UCU over pension changes.

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Accessibility

British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be provided at this event and our main event spaces are equipped with hearing loops.

Our main entrance is a large wooden door with a long vertical metal handle, which opens out towards the street. This is followed by double automatic doors which also open out towards the street. Our reception area is always staffed.

The nearest disabled parking spaces are located on Gordon Square or Endsleigh Gardens, approximately 5 minutes from 22 Gordon Street. Cars can equally drop off passengers outside the front entrance on Gordon Street. The nearest step-free tube station is Euston Station.

All our spaces are accessible: there is lift access to all floors as well as accessible and standard toilet facilities located on all levels.

Please note – our access button to operate the main entrance is under repair. Please contact our main reception on 020 3108 6128 for support entering the building.

Please contact Professor Barbara Penner with any other access and dietary requirements.

Image: Performance by artist Noemi Lakmaier entitled 'Exercise in Losing Control'. Photography by Joy Stanley and Margaret Sturton.