Tillgänglighet och varsamhet i vardagens stadsmiljöer
This graduate thesis deals with the challenges facing us as we gradually make our urban environments withtheir many public buildings, such as shops, cafés and cinemas, more accessible for disabled people. Theperspective taken is that of the conservationist, who in her or his profession looks to the cultural andhistorical characteristics in buildings and building environments. In order to gain better accessibility, changesin the physical fabric need to be made, with consideration for the cultural and historical characteristics.The introduction presents the subject of considarate accessibility. The second chapter deals with the legalaspects concerning the protection of buildings as well as the accessibility for disabled people. Severalinterviews with different participants are presented here, aiming to tie the legislation to the reality of theconservationist, the disabled, the civil servant working with accessibility issues and the property owner,whose responsibility it is to make the adjustments necessary to improve accessibility. The third chapterpresents two case studies, dealing with the challenges of considerate accessibility in two different parts ofGothenburg, Vallgatan and Andra Långgatan. The case studies aim to identify both the cultural and historicalcharacteristics as well as the needs of the disabled, focusing on those with mobility impairments.The concluding discussion in chapter 4 reflects on what was presented in chapters 2 and 3. There is a lack ofknowledge of the subject of accessibility and of whose responsibility it is to put the legislation into effect.One conclusion is that the process of making urban environments more accessible does not happen on itsown; the municipality needs to take the initiative to evoke change. It is also vital for the process that allparticipants work towards an explicit, mutual goal. The case studies show that small alterations can make abig difference. In both the examples presented in this paper the street pavement is an important key tomaking the building environments more accessible. There are also several small alterations that can be madeto improve accessibility in a considerate way. Our urban building environments, with their historical andcultural characteristics, are potential storytellers. They also play a recreational and useful role for many of us,in our everyday lives. To make them accessible should be a matter of course, and the participation of theconservationist should be essential in that process in the years to come.