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Maria Griva et al. Accessibility in vernacular settlements

concerns in the design of environments, products, modity (Di Stefano, 1979) with cultural and econom-
programs and services to be usable by all people to ic value. On this basis, protecting and improving the
the greatest extent possible (Mace, 1988; Mace et al., architectural heritage environment increases its effi-
1996). In the case of persons with disabilities, Univer- ciency, with cultural and economic benefits for socie-
sal Design is the central concept and framework of the ty. In the Mexico City Declaration on Cultural Policies
CRPD (UN, 2006). Thus, Universal Design does not re- (1982, point 16), UNESCO links culture with develop-
fer to persons with disabilities but all people. The rea- ment, asserting that “making cultural factors an in-
sonable adjustments (UN, 2006, article 2) concern the tegral part of the strategies designed to achieve it” is
already spatially configured environments concerning essential to ensure balanced development.” Also, its
the necessary and appropriate modifications and ad- Report “Our Creative Diversity” (1995) stresses “the
justments in every single case to ensure the exercise importance of heritage preservation policies as part of
of all human rights and the fundamental freedom for economic development”. It claims that we have not yet
persons with disabilities on an equal basis to others. sufficiently considered intangible cultural heritage;
In the present research context, the built environment we are still not using the heritage in all its aspects as
will be approached via Universal Design, with supple- broadly and effectively as we might, nor managing it
mentary specific references to accessibility regarding as sensitively as we should.
products and services (Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban
European Parliament and of the Council, 2019), in-
cluding digital technology. In this context, it is nec- Landscape (2011, point 5) integrates and frames ur-
essary to consider the various sub-groups of persons ban heritage conservation strategies within the larger
with disabilities’ needs, facilitating life for all. It de- sustainable development goals. It suggests a landscape
mands an advanced analysis of all possibilities and of approach for identifying, conserving, and managing
the objective space limitations and then the lifting of historic areas within their broader urban contexts by
barriers by determined actions and the guidance of considering the inter-relationships of their physical
users. The design incorporates assistive devices when forms, their spatial organisation and connection, their
there is a demand for them. Furthermore, “Universal natural features and settings, and their social, cultural
design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particu- and economic values (Weber & Yannas, 2014). More-
lar groups of persons with disabilities where this is over, the vernacular architecture itself is considered a
needed” (UN, 2006, article 2). Issues of protection and model for sustainable design (Weber & Yannas, 2014)
conservation of architectural heritage are vital factors and the lessons that it may teach constitute “indige-
in the present research. nous” forms of knowledge (Vellinga, 2015). The Gra-
nada Convention’s definition of architectural heritage
Protection and Conservation of Architectural Heritage - as monuments, groups of buildings and sites (Council
Vernacular Architecture of Europe, 1985) renders possible the identification
The Amsterdam Declaration on the European Archi- of properties to be protected. ICOMOS (1999) defines
tectural Heritage (Council of Europe, 1975) outlines vernacular architecture in the Charter on the built
the need for architectural heritage conservation to vernacular heritage as a manner of building shared by
become an integral part of urban and regional plan- the community within a context composed of its char-
ning, involving local authorities and citizens and acteristics, which one can recognise as:
considering social factors. In this frame, architectural 1. A manner of building shared by the community.
heritage includes exceptional-quality buildings, their
surroundings, and all areas of towns or villages of his- 2. A recognisable local or regional character respon-
torical or cultural interest. So, architectural heritage, sive to the environment.
entailing monuments, vernacular settlements, and 3. Coherence of style, form and appearance, or tradi-
historical centres, has evolved into a cultural com- tionally established building types.

80 | Proceedings of the 7th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference