In the summer of 2022, The DisOrdinary Architecture Project worked with deaf architects Chris Laing and Richard Dougherty to design and construct a pavilion for Festival Theaterformen in Braunschweig, Germany. The architects took it as a great opportunity to explore the design implications of Deaf Gain and Deaf Space developed at Gallaudet, a Deaf university in America.
DisOrdinary architects and artists carried out workshops with disabled artists at the festival site, and used it to generate a design for a simple structure that offered moments of retreat, reflection, openness and light, creating a place where everyone can feel comfortable and an environment where no one feels disadvantaged.
Join us for this talk from the architects during UK Disability History Month, celebrating the project and sharing insights, challenges and lessons learnt. Learn about how taking a creative approach to inclusive design can open up new, exciting possibilities and better places for all.
The talk will be followed by an open debate and discussion.
The process has been documented in a short film, directed by Tim Copsey, and supported by RIBA North West, which will be shown at the event.
This event is supported by the RIBA ENABLE Community and the RIBA North West EDI Group.
This event is free and open to all. It will take place online over Zoom and will be fully signed with BSL interpreters.
Chris Laing is an Architectural Designer, Activist, Consultant, Founder Of Signstrokes and will be establishing Deaf Architecture Front. He is keen to facilitate engagement between the Deaf community and the spatial and architecture practice industry - hoping to see greater opportunities for the field of architecture to benefit from Deaf peoples’ perspective in the near future. He is currently a Part 2 Architectural Assistant at Haworth Tompkins.
Richard Dougherty is currently an Associate Architect for Hall McKnight and has accumulated over 17 years of experience working on public and private sector projects. Richard is currently leading a new campus building and public realm works for the prestigious Gallaudet University for the Deaf in Washington D.C.
The DisOrdinary Architecture Project promotes new models of practice for the built environment, led by the creativity and experiences of disabled and Deaf artists.
