Inclusive Spaces



How can we break down systematic inequalities in urban spaces? How can we build better for everyone?
The Bartlett’s monthly Inclusive Spaces event series explores equity, diversity and inclusion in the built environment.
Join us each month as we delve into the latest research and ideas from The Bartlett’s world-leading thinkers on race, gender, LGBTQ+, disability – and other dimensions of diversity in the built environment.
Upcoming events
Past events
- Rethinking disability and built space
This interactive workshop session will start from the work of disabled artists, designers, campaigners and scholars. We will discuss how engaging with disability at the intersections can be both a creative design generator, and a key means to challenge and change what is ‘normal’ in the design of the built environment.
In architecture and related fields in the built environment, disability as a concept – and disabled people – continue to be predominantly framed through a set of outdated and functionalist categories (wheelchair user, blind, deaf, etc.).
There is still a widespread assumption that ‘disability’ is unable to bring any kind of creativity to the design of human spaces.
Since 2008, the DisOrdinary Architecture Project has been challenging this assumption by promoting new practice for the built environment, led by the creativity and experiences of disabled artists.
By finding innovative and enjoyable ways of bringing together disabled creatives with built environment students, educators, researchers and practitioners, DisOrdinary Architecture is co-developing new forms of valuing, and designing with, the rich bio- and neurodiversity of our many different ways of being in the world.
Recording: Rethinking disability and built space
YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://youtu.be/4DlPZ1VVIH0 - Re-thinking architecture to create social value
This session will be led by award-winning architect and Bartlett alumna Tumpa Husna Yasmin Fellows.
In part one, we’ll explore inclusive design methods, and answer key questions: How can architecture enable the voices of underrepresented communities to enable spatial justice? How can architects design for social value creation in places, buildings and neighbourhoods? How can designing inclusive spaces help us respond to the climate injustice? We’ll bring these issues to life with case study projects from the practise Our Building Design, which enabled marginalised local voices to be heard through community participation and evidence-based research, tackling complex social and environmental issues faced by the disadvantaged communities.
Part two will expose the urgent issue of diversity in the architecture profession. FAME collective is a research-based platform responding to a lack of understanding of how race and gender affect practitioners, young scholars and students in architecture and the built environment. We’ll explore how these professions need to diversify, in order to reflect the diversity of the local communities they are serving.
Recording: Re-thinking architecture to create social value
YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://youtu.be/LviwOhvVHts
Are you a UCL academic and interested in presenting at an Inclusive Spaces event? Please contact Nishat Tasnim at n.tasnim@ucl.ac.uk to register your interest.