Inclusive Design Methodology in Practice: Turning a Prison into an Inclusive Civic University

Abstract

This paper outlines the importance of contextual theoretical, empirical research and research by design in order to create inclusive concepts at the start of a design process. 26 master students were invited to reflect upon an old prison site in order to create a new entrance for Hasselt University representing an open university for all. Whereas many student excercises in Design for All (DfA) often focus on the needs and disabilities of people, this excercise focused on the abilities of people on site and on the opportunities of the architectural site itself. By means of linking both results, the excercise demonstrates to be very inspirational to both students and staff. The paper concludes with a categorisation in contextual analysis from an experiential as well as an architectural point of view.