INCLUSIVE DESIGN AS A TOOL IN THE DESIGN OF SPORT COMPLEX FOR THE DISABLED

(A CASE STUDY OF KANO)

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
Inclusive design takes into consideration the varying needs of diverse users in order not to socially exclude any potentials user irrespective of one?s ability from the use of any functional space. The seven principles of inclusive designs enhance the wide use of spaces thereby minimizing architectural disability and increasing diverse users of the built environment. The study aimed at integrating an inclusive sporting complex which can accommodate varieties of users irrespective of age, sizes, physical challenges and ability. A mixed research methodology was used for the study in order to allow for research triangulation and wide range of data collection. The instruments of data collection used for the study include interviews, visual surveys and observation at the respective case studies selected for the study. Two management staff at each of the stadium, coaches of the physically challenged persons were altogether interviewed at SAS and Rwang Pam stadium while a total of ten physically challenged persons were also interviewed. The research found out that there is minimal application of inclusive design in all the selected case studies which result in the negligence and exclusive of the physically challenged persons from fully participating in social and entertainment activities such as sports. There is no any special or dedicated facility which adequately meets the design requirements of the physically challenge in any of the selected case studies. This tends to question the usage of spaces and the sporting facilities thereby intensifying architectural disability and social exclusion among the physically challenged persons. As such, there is need to always take into consideration the physically challenge persons by integrating inclusiveness in the design approach of public spaces as reflected in the proposal sporting complex which explores the principles of inclusive design.