BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
ABSTRACT:
• The community of the blind needs to enhance an alternate sense like
touch, smell and hearing in order to understand the surroundings in
locating their presence in any known area with the memories they
have linked to that place.
h environment, identify how these inter-relationships
• Telangana seems to lack behind in providing the right built
environment as well as amenities/special centers, even though
Telangana ranks 2nd nation-wide to have the highest number of blind
populations. • In this research paper, the initial reports
talk about the statistics of the blind
population and various categories of the
blind that are classifies on the basis of
types of blindness. To further study the
type of spaces used by the them,
universal standards, literature study and
desktop studies have been conducted
to help in understanding and designing
the ‘perfect’ built environment.
INTRODUCTION:
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “everyone, if
they live long enough, will experience at least one eye condition in
their lifetime”.
• An estimated 2.2 billion people around the globe suffer from some
form of visual impairment or blindness – including everyone who
simply wears corrective lenses while, one billion of these cases
could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.
• While considering and calculating from the pervious census data,
then the number of blind persons in India would increase to 24.1
million in 2010, and to 31.6 million in 2020 and so on, becoming the
home to the world's largest number of blind people.
AIM: METHODOLOGY :
This research aims at understanding the various ways
in which the visually impaired individuals relate to their
can be interpreted in architectural design to enable
them to have a richer experience in any setting and
illustrating in an architectural design proposal for a
special centre for this vision impaired.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To explore the way in which the design could be
made barrier free.
2. To study the other senses used by the visually
impaired.
3. To provide simple and free circulation in and around
a building, making the movement flexible, easy and
navigable.
4. To give a unique environment in sensory
stimulations such as textures, smell, sound and
colours.
5. To give segregation in their paths from the regular
ones to avoid any unnecessary collisions or barriers
to ensure safety.
MAGNITUDE OF BLINDNESS:
SCOPE :
WORLD (AS PER DATA PROVIDED BY WHO)
• To study about the understanding of the visually
impaired. The estimated number of visual disabilities:
• To study how the visual handicapped move around • 285 million - visually impaired
the environment and how to given them the • 39 million - blind
• 246 million - having a low vision.
chance to freely move around in the built
INDIA (AS PER DATA PROVIDED BY NPCB-INDIA)
environment.
• To learn about all the special features that will be • 7.2 million - blind people in 1990, which rose
required for designing a space for them. to 8.8 million in 2015.
• 36 million blind people.
• To study and incorporate local materials that
• Telangana is rated among one of the highest
comply with the favourable conditions of the
as inferred from the ‘NBVI’survey in India
climate.
• Warangal among the 31 districts, with a
prevalence rate of 3.47%.
 BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
UNDERSTANDING THE NEED:
BARRIERS FACED BY THE VISUALLY CHALLENGED:
1.Variety: The problems of each blind
individual are unique, and there is a
Loud sounds can provide great advantage in having a variety of
Navigating around public
discomfort as they rely mostly facilities available to get a choice for
spaces can be hard since
on their hearing abilities. individual circumstances.
not all public spaces have
Lack of braille scriptures
tactile flooring and 2.Independence: The objective of
signages education, training, rehabilitation and
welfare is to provide the individual with
the maximum opportunities to the limit
of his/her capabilities.
For people with low vision,
extremely bright and glaring light Navigating through No awareness about the 3.Mobility: To overcome the restriction
can create strain in their eyes and crowded areas can be difference between a blind of movement that blindness may
cause extreme discomfort and extremely challenging and a visually impaired impose, the individual has to adapt to
confusion person. the design techniques implemented to
be able to move around in the space
with the confidence and assurance.
Lack of proper health A very small number of
care in villages leads to Overly helpful individuals blind schools and blind 4.Integration: The blind often feels
blindness which can be can create a problem for institutions are available isolated and need to be integrated
otherwise prevented or them as they might panic in India which lack decent within their local communities. They do
cured. to a foreign touch facilities not need praise or pity for their
disability, but more so acceptance as a
DESIGN SOLUTIONS: STANDARDS BY NBC: normal member of the society.
AVOIDING BARRIERS: Finding alternatives to standard walls like low walls, furniture
elements, or creating openings within walls can be considered while designing,
STEP FOR > 6MM
making the space more accessible.
WAY FINDING: It can be done by using different materials like tactile tiles on the
floor and creating a pattern to guide people or by using fragrance to lead the way
or by incorporating tactile materials to create a pathway. SLOPE FOR 6MM TO 12MM

ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT: Cancelling irritable noises like that of a mechanical vent

or loud chattering and increasing the scope of natural sounds like that of people’s
footsteps or the dripping of a water droplet, makes the space “sound better” and
more comfortable.
RAMP FOR < 12MM
BRAILLE: Braille can also be applied to signages at places like an elevator button or SHAPE AND SIZE OF TACTILE GUIDING TILES APPROCHABLE HEIGHT STANDARDS LEVEL CHANGE DETAILS
a fire extinguisher that would enable the people to visualize the functions as
required.
TECHNOLOGY: Architects can look into these new systems and generate a
mechanism to enable a blind person to transform their entire house concerning
their particular requirements.
SENSE OF SMELL: Using fragrant flowers or plants in space can also guide a person
through the structure and allow them to distinguish one space from another.
SOFT NATURAL LIGHT: blinding lights and direct harsh sunlight should be curbed
and soft lighting with low glare should be encouraged in a space for a visually
impaired person STAIRCASE AND HAND RAIL DETAILS
LAYOUT OF TACTILE FLOORING ACCEPTABLE CLERANCE FOR PROTRUDING ELEMENTS