Overcoming architectural barriers in public cultural places

Abstract

This paper presents reflections resulting from research and experimentation activities on the theme of cultural accessibility, with a particular focus on accessibility in public services such as museums, galleries, and exhibition spaces. Accessibility is considered in its various dimensions, including social and economic aspects, with particular attention to digital communication, which often constitutes a significant barrier to accessing services. Museums must be accessible and usable in all their public areas by all visitors. This includes ensuring that individuals with various disabilities can fully enjoy the visit and its services, with special attention to sensory disabilities in the design of exhibitions (Mallgrave, 2015). The main objective of this study is to demonstrate how a well-designed project, developed within the domains of architecture and urban planning, can address universal accessibility issues by applying innovative regulatory requirements, analyzing national and international case studies, and fostering effective collaboration between the local authority managing the property and the university as the hub of the design activity. The paper supports this reflection by illustrating proposals submitted to the 2022 Call for Projects by the Ministry of Culture's General Directorate of Museums, aimed at eliminating physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers in cultural spaces. The projects focus on three museums in the city of Viterbo: two public institutions (Museo dei Portici and Museo Civico) and one private museum (Museo Colle del Duomo). The proposals were developed according to the principles of Universal Accessible Design, targeting a broader audience and recognizing individuals with disabilities as active members of society. A key outcome of the research is the rapid development of a universal accessibility project with a planned three-year implementation timeline. This initiative includes workshops designed to disseminate results, enhance cultural heritage, and raise awareness of accessibility issues among schools and urban associations (Leveratto, 2015). The study also highlights the significant partnership between academic research and design projects in response to institutional Calls for Projects. This collaboration underscores the potential for integrating academic knowledge into practical solutions to improve accessibility in cultural spaces. Interesting and innovative is also the experimentation of Laboratory of Permanent Accessibility that engage a lot of partecipants in the design principals and goals.