Challenge Accepted: Creating Inclusive Heritage Sites
An aspect of disability that is often overlooked is creativity.
People with disabilities frequently need to think innovatively to navigate daily life, and this same creative thinking is essential in designing accessible buildings. The capacity to think divergently, consider various viewpoints – including those with a spectrum of lived experience – and to generate and implement new ideas is crucial in the creation of accessible spaces.
A growing number of designers and architects welcomes this challenge. And if you’re Ernesto Morales, you level up that challenge by tasking yourself with improving accessibility in heritage buildings.
“I’m very passionate about this particular topic because it’s so challenging,” Ernesto said. “It really pushes the boundaries of your creativity and creative problem-solving.”
Ernesto has a background in architecture and design. He focuses on inclusive accessibility and design solutions, with a particular interest in the design of heath care buildings, specifically on patient surroundings and work spaces for caregivers. He is an associate professor at Laval University in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation. He is also a member of the advisory committee on building accessibility and safety for people with disabilities in Québec, his home province.
The Rick Hansen Foundation is thrilled to share that Ernesto is part of the upcoming session at the #APN2024: Building Beyond conference on March 27 and 28 in Vancouver, B.C., called ‘Heritage and Accessibility,’ promises to be intriguing as it examines new research in this area and potential solutions. Ernesto will be sharing his knowledge along with Alison Novak and Murray Gallant.
Embracing Creativity as Part of Accessible Design
Historic heritage places were built long before the development of accessibility standards and the rights of people with disabilities were considered. There are more than 1,000 designated National Historic Sites in Canada, about half of which are located in Québec. Many of the buildings as part of those sites are characterized by steep stairs, narrow doorways, echoey rooms, uneven surfaces, and tiny washrooms – and that’s just calling out a handful of barriers.
Improving accessibility in these sites is essential as everyone should be able to access their respective activities (some of which serve as community hubs in locations across the country). Heritage sites are also a part of our cultural identity.
The issue is: how to balance the preservation of heritage while promoting inclusive and equitable access for all?
There are two approaches, Ernesto said. “One, you try to make the most discreet of interventions by using the same materials as the original building. You have to plan for this very carefully with lots of research around what is less damaging to the site. Two, you can make a modern change with the purpose of creating a significant contrast. In this case, a lot of the time when it’s done right, it looks beautiful.”
Ernesto cited the Louvre in Paris, France, as a fantastic example of marrying modern with historic. The museum, initially constructed in the 12th century as a fortress, served as a royal residence before becoming a public museum in 1793. Adding the I.M. Pei-designed Louvre Pyramid in 1989 was to improve visitor flow by reorganizing entrances to the museum’s three wings and reception areas. The Pyramid includes two information desks built into soundproof pillars; better signage; redesigned ticketing facilities; and a gorgeous circular staircase that wraps around an open lift.
“The Louvre is so inclusive because of this addition,” Ernesto added. “Of course, we cannot build pyramids everywhere, but it is done in the spirit of embracing creativity to enhance the experience of all. And that’s something we should aspire to.”
Old Barriers, New Solutions
Back in Canada, Ernesto works in one of the oldest cities in the nation – Québec City.
“Even though Québec City is small compared to Europe, it is the largest city in Canada in terms of heritage buildings. We have a topography that is particular to the city, including very steep streets that are impossible for people with any kind of mobility issue to navigate,” he said.
“There is also the uneven pavement and snow. In addition to the usual barriers snow presents, many of our buildings have peaked roofs, so when the snow slides off, it’s often right to the sidewalk. And that’s a danger. There are also steps everywhere. Steps to get into the restaurants, into the stores. But those were built for a reason at the time – to prevent snow from getting inside.”
Ernesto is the principal investigator in the research project “AXS Heritage: reconciling heritage buildings with accessibility” that aims to provide recommendations to the federal government in regards of accessibility norms in heritage sites. The project explored, among other things, the experiences of people with disabilities and accessibility when visiting heritage sites. An exterior site and an interior site were used as part of the study, with – ironically – the School of Architecture being used for the latter.
“The School of Architecture is in a very old monastery. It’s a wonderful place to study, but it is not very accessible,” Ernesto said, adding that one section of the floor is impossible to access for those who use wheelchairs. People with diverse disabilities provided input to the research team, and the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) rating tool was applied to assess the site’s accessibility.
“There are ways of giving the respect we need to give to heritage buildings, but still make them more accessible,” Ernesto said. “For example, instead of placing a huge map on the wall where it might cause damage, a projected image can be used. In the instance of acoustics, a panel can be placed on one wall instead of all to better absorb sound. If a building is located on an incline and has stairs, there are ways to work with the slope and build an inclined plane.”
Regarding exterior accessibility, Ernesto studied the impact of shared streets. The idea of a shared street is based on removing the formal distinctions between spaces dedicated to pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, with each user being more aware and respectful of others – in theory. It’s a great system, Ernesto added, except for people with low vision who rely on shorelining or trailing to navigate and for those cannot hear an electric car driving up from behind them. Etcetera.
We look forward to learning about solutions Ernesto and his team have discovered during #APN2024, and his call for friendlier and more inclusive design in heritage sites as we build a world where everyone feels at home in our shared history.
#APN2024: Building Beyond is a two-day conference dedicated to forging a future that is inclusive and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Tickets for in-person attendance at the Vancouver Convention Center have sold out but online tickets are available through our website.
