One of five things, revisited:
Dec. 18th, 2010 08:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
capri0mniThe other day, I wrote a "Five Things make a Post" entry, where I said I wanted to live in a round house (preferably at least partially underground). I remember thinking of this as my "Dream house" ever since I was at least ten years old, but it was this video, that I saw on YouTube a bit ago, that reminded me of all the reasons why I want a round house, and that I'm not just a crazy person.
+1,000,000 for the rounded corners making it easier for navigation, especially. Cuz, doods -- the walls at every corner of my house are scuffed up and scratched, because corners are hard to get around, and see where you are, and my chair has little sticky-out bits on the sides that catch on the corners. Also round tables. It's easier for me to pull up close to a round table in my wheelchair, because my joystick makes it hard to pull up to a straight edge without it getting in the way.
Also, the "Good lighting without glare" would benefit visually impaired people, too (even most people who are "legally blind" have some vision, so anything that helps clear vision in general would help them)
According to the info provided with this vid, it was done as an assignment for a college course on Deaf Culture. So while it is very good, there are a few things I would disagree with. The main thing being the conflating American Deaf culture with all Deaf Culture (ASL is the signed language of the U.S., parts of Canada, and smaller parts of Mexico. But if you didn't know that, you'd think ASL was a universal language, just going by the script of this vid). Also, I think the praising of collectivism over individualism is out of place, here, and it strikes me as the vid makers trying to curry favor with a teacher. It may be a better way to form social institutions, but that's a secondary issue to the specific issues of architechture.
Anyway, I know a few people on my f'list are interested in building design and the like, as well as Deaf culture (besides myself) so I thought I'd share this here.
What is Deaf?
Deafness isn't just about someone's ears. Deaf people are a unique linguistic minority in America; they have their own school experiences, social activities, folklore, behaviors, and values. Culturally Deaf people treasure their visual language-American Sign Language (ASL)- and have values revolving around their visual way of life. Deaf people differ from the Hearing majority in many aspects. The dominant cultural pattern in the United
States is that of individualism, while Deaf Culture values collectivism. they view themselves as members of a close, interconnected group, with their own traditions and events for social interaction.
What does this mean for people who aren't Deaf?
Deaf Culture has a lot to offer the Hearing world. This concept of profiting from the Deaf perspective is referred to as "Deaf Gain." This phrase has three ways of being expressed in ASL: "Deaf Increase," "Deaf Benefit," and "Deaf Contribute" and was created to counteract the stigma of
the term "hearing loss."
One example of a Deaf Gain is the potential of Deaf architecture to benefit and impact the Hearing world. Deaf Space is a recent development that works to create Deaf friendly, and therefore visually friendly spaces.
Hansel Bauman, a hearing architect, brother of Dirksen Bauman [professor of Deaf Studies at Gallaudet], came from California to Gallaudet and led a Deaf Space workshop.
[signed passage follows]
People came together to discuss what it means to design a "Deaf Space"?How can buildings and areas match the Deaf way of being; how can they match and agree with "Deaf?" Suppose you go to another country: how do
you know that you're in China? You see the structures. You look and you know; you can identify that it is China.
[end signed passage]
Deaf Space meets the needs of the Deaf, but it can benefit larger society, as well. The foundations of Deaf Space start with the use of visual language. For ASL, eye contact is crucial for conversation, so environments should be designed to allow people to face their friend while walking
and chatting. Paths shouldn't have obstructive objects that cause hazards or force people to step into the street to get a wide enough view of the signer.
Further, the architecture itself should act as a safeguard,helping people to orient themselves, and to allow for easy movement through halls and spaces. For example, ramps rather than stairs make it easier to carry on a signed conversation while climbing.
The environment can provide subtle or obvious clues to aid avigation. The design element of rounded turns, for example, would prevent collisions that can occur at hallway corners. The Deaf certainly appreciate this because
they can't hear other footsteps coming,but most hearing people have also experienced bumping into someone when rounding a corner.We would all be better off with rounded turns in hallways. Also reflecting visual nature, windows, lighting, and glare prevention, are essential elements of Deaf Space so that people can see one another. Eye contact and facial expression are integral to ASL, so bright and diffuse lighting ensures that people can see one another well. The Hearing world should aim for this goal,
too, to be able to see the expressions of others in conversation. Also, to make sure that people can see one another, all rooms, tables, and seating areas in Deaf Spaces should allow people to come together in an arc or circle formation. This makes eye contact in large group conversations
easy, and also encourages people to sit and be social. Everyone can be included in the conversation and no one is left out on the end.
It works great in classrooms, where class discussions take place effortlessly; no one has to strain their neck to see the speaker. It also works great just lounging, hanging out, or eating.
When we sit at rectangular tables, we are limited to speaking to those directly next to or across from us.Round tables allow everyone to take part in the dialogue. These new ideas of design can help everyone
engage in more meaningful interactions and conversations. Just because we can hear someone's voice doesn't mean that seeing their face is devoid of value.
Deaf Space also offers us the benefit of easier navigation. Hazards, corners, harsh lighting and hidden narrow stairwells aren't conducive to our movement through or interaction with the world. We can look toward the Deaf, for learning how to make our environments more friendly and conversation facilitating to all. Perhaps we can even shift our individualistic
attitudes toward a more collectivist way of life.
+1,000,000 for the rounded corners making it easier for navigation, especially. Cuz, doods -- the walls at every corner of my house are scuffed up and scratched, because corners are hard to get around, and see where you are, and my chair has little sticky-out bits on the sides that catch on the corners. Also round tables. It's easier for me to pull up close to a round table in my wheelchair, because my joystick makes it hard to pull up to a straight edge without it getting in the way.
Also, the "Good lighting without glare" would benefit visually impaired people, too (even most people who are "legally blind" have some vision, so anything that helps clear vision in general would help them)
According to the info provided with this vid, it was done as an assignment for a college course on Deaf Culture. So while it is very good, there are a few things I would disagree with. The main thing being the conflating American Deaf culture with all Deaf Culture (ASL is the signed language of the U.S., parts of Canada, and smaller parts of Mexico. But if you didn't know that, you'd think ASL was a universal language, just going by the script of this vid). Also, I think the praising of collectivism over individualism is out of place, here, and it strikes me as the vid makers trying to curry favor with a teacher. It may be a better way to form social institutions, but that's a secondary issue to the specific issues of architechture.
Anyway, I know a few people on my f'list are interested in building design and the like, as well as Deaf culture (besides myself) so I thought I'd share this here.
What is Deaf?
Deafness isn't just about someone's ears. Deaf people are a unique linguistic minority in America; they have their own school experiences, social activities, folklore, behaviors, and values. Culturally Deaf people treasure their visual language-American Sign Language (ASL)- and have values revolving around their visual way of life. Deaf people differ from the Hearing majority in many aspects. The dominant cultural pattern in the United
States is that of individualism, while Deaf Culture values collectivism. they view themselves as members of a close, interconnected group, with their own traditions and events for social interaction.
What does this mean for people who aren't Deaf?
Deaf Culture has a lot to offer the Hearing world. This concept of profiting from the Deaf perspective is referred to as "Deaf Gain." This phrase has three ways of being expressed in ASL: "Deaf Increase," "Deaf Benefit," and "Deaf Contribute" and was created to counteract the stigma of
the term "hearing loss."
One example of a Deaf Gain is the potential of Deaf architecture to benefit and impact the Hearing world. Deaf Space is a recent development that works to create Deaf friendly, and therefore visually friendly spaces.
Hansel Bauman, a hearing architect, brother of Dirksen Bauman [professor of Deaf Studies at Gallaudet], came from California to Gallaudet and led a Deaf Space workshop.
[signed passage follows]
People came together to discuss what it means to design a "Deaf Space"?How can buildings and areas match the Deaf way of being; how can they match and agree with "Deaf?" Suppose you go to another country: how do
you know that you're in China? You see the structures. You look and you know; you can identify that it is China.
[end signed passage]
Deaf Space meets the needs of the Deaf, but it can benefit larger society, as well. The foundations of Deaf Space start with the use of visual language. For ASL, eye contact is crucial for conversation, so environments should be designed to allow people to face their friend while walking
and chatting. Paths shouldn't have obstructive objects that cause hazards or force people to step into the street to get a wide enough view of the signer.
Further, the architecture itself should act as a safeguard,helping people to orient themselves, and to allow for easy movement through halls and spaces. For example, ramps rather than stairs make it easier to carry on a signed conversation while climbing.
The environment can provide subtle or obvious clues to aid avigation. The design element of rounded turns, for example, would prevent collisions that can occur at hallway corners. The Deaf certainly appreciate this because
they can't hear other footsteps coming,but most hearing people have also experienced bumping into someone when rounding a corner.We would all be better off with rounded turns in hallways. Also reflecting visual nature, windows, lighting, and glare prevention, are essential elements of Deaf Space so that people can see one another. Eye contact and facial expression are integral to ASL, so bright and diffuse lighting ensures that people can see one another well. The Hearing world should aim for this goal,
too, to be able to see the expressions of others in conversation. Also, to make sure that people can see one another, all rooms, tables, and seating areas in Deaf Spaces should allow people to come together in an arc or circle formation. This makes eye contact in large group conversations
easy, and also encourages people to sit and be social. Everyone can be included in the conversation and no one is left out on the end.
It works great in classrooms, where class discussions take place effortlessly; no one has to strain their neck to see the speaker. It also works great just lounging, hanging out, or eating.
When we sit at rectangular tables, we are limited to speaking to those directly next to or across from us.Round tables allow everyone to take part in the dialogue. These new ideas of design can help everyone
engage in more meaningful interactions and conversations. Just because we can hear someone's voice doesn't mean that seeing their face is devoid of value.
Deaf Space also offers us the benefit of easier navigation. Hazards, corners, harsh lighting and hidden narrow stairwells aren't conducive to our movement through or interaction with the world. We can look toward the Deaf, for learning how to make our environments more friendly and conversation facilitating to all. Perhaps we can even shift our individualistic
attitudes toward a more collectivist way of life.
