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Cities for everyone: accessible design is good for us all

Partner Programme

20 Sept 2023

Architecture / Landscape

sketch

9 Conduit Street

Mayfair

London

W1S 2XG

#LDF23

Voices from across the built environment come together to explore why accessible design improves the lives of everyone in society. A discussion that sets out to challenge the polarisation of able-bodied and disabled people and calls for a new conversation about why we just need to design for people.

For this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, award-winning landscape designers Harris Bugg Studio were challenged to design a garden for spinal injuries charity Horatio’s Garden. The brief was to design a space that was imperceptibly accessible - beautiful and functional for all - and not like some of the second class places disabled people are familiar with. The garden went on to win Best in Show and was recognised for its setting aside of preconceptions about accessible spaces and the exceptional delivery of the brief. Charlotte Harris of Harris Bugg Studio is joined by disability advocate and paralympic sportswoman Rachel Morris, Adrian Miles from Avanti Architects and Elisabetta Carattin from Arup’s Access and Inclusive Environments team for a far-ranging conversation about what it means to build a more equitable world. Chaired by Manijeh Verghese, head of public programmes at the Architectural Association. Hosted by sketch, the ticket includes a complimentary ‘design cocktail’ on arrival.