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DEAFSCAPE APPLYING DE AFSPACE TO L ANDSCAPE ALEXA VAUGHN
DeafSpace sprang from the heart of the Deaf community at Gallaudet University1 in Washington, D.C., in 2005. With the guidance of architect Hansel Bauman—who is hearing, but uses American Sign Language (ASL)—the Deaf community at Gallaudet came together through courses and workshops to create radical, bilingual, and highly collaborative discourse on designing more effective campus buildings and public spaces for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH).2 The resulting product is Gallaudet University's DeafSpace Design Guidelines (DSDG), an ever-evolving publication designed for use by architects, planners, and administration. 100
Defined by the DSDG, DeafSpace is a space “in which Deaf culture, in all its diverse dimensions, can thrive through full access to communication and the unique cognitive, cultural and creative dimensions of the Deaf experience are encouraged.”3 Within a predominantly hearing world, the built environment poses many real, physical barriers to people who are Deaf, as well as people with disabilities. These barriers range widely from the absence of visual signage on public transportation to the lack of space to communicate with sign language while walking on public sidewalks. Deaf people have spent their lives adapting to the built
... a space “in which Deaf culture, in all its diverse dimensions, can thrive through full access to communication and the unique cognitive, cultural and creative dimensions of the Deaf experience are encouraged.”
environment. Those who deviate from the 'norm' are expected to make adjustments to fit themselves seamlessly into society— regardless of ability—particularly in public space. As a result, the built environment is viewed as static rather than flexible. While people with disabilities have been guaranteed rights to public space through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since 1990, these regulations are not exhaustive, and historically have given less attention to those who are Deaf and HoH.4 With recent challenges to the ADA as we know it under H.R. 620,5 designers must use their power to design beautiful and accessible public spaces for all. DeafSpace, and other principles of Universal Design, have the power to take the ADA a step further—celebrating
the beauty of form as well as function, bringing to
tree planting, and design of other outdoor rooms
light the unique identities of those who are Deaf or
and shelters (e.g., parklets). Derrick Behm, a Deaf
disabled. DeafSpace asserts that the environment
graduate student in urban planning at Georgetown
can be changed to create better public space for
University, explains that he generally prefers action
individuals that deviate from the hearing 'norm.'
to happen in front of him, "with a wall or tree
However, in applying DeafSpace to landscape, not
behind to feel subconsciously safe" and to be able
only the Deaf community—but all people—serve to
to better control what goes on behind him.
reap the benefits of more accessible public space.
COLLECTIVE AND CONNECTIVE SPACE
Spatially, people in the Deaf community require
Social interaction is fundamental to Deaf culture.
enough space between individuals to sign and 360°
Placing collective spaces next to high-activity areas
sensory reach, dependent upon visual and tactile
promotes activation of these spaces by forming
senses. The DSDG attempts to create a better built
both physical and visual connection. Nodes
environment for the Deaf community through five
are central connecting points and intersections
units: "Space and Proximity," "Sensory Reach,"
along main areas of circulation, which promote
"Mobility and Proximity," "Light and Color," and
spontaneous social interaction as people move
"Acoustics and Electromagnetic Interference." It
from place to place. Eddies are located along the
must be noted that these guidelines focus upon
edges of major pathways and can provide space for
applications for the American Deaf community.
conversation and people-watching; an eddy can be
Although many guidelines were found to be
scaled for different uses and serves as a degree of
cross-cultural, Deaf cultures are extremely diverse.
enclosure in public space. Both nodes and eddies
Currently, there are over 200 sign languages in use
can be applied to busy city sidewalks to provide
around the world.
space off of the main path for conversation, limiting obstructive incidents and allowing for space to sign.
As a Deaf graduate student in landscape architecture, new to the Deaf community and
MOBILITY AND PROXIMITY
ASL, I wondered how I could apply DeafSpace
Critical to DeafSpace is the provision of freedom
to the larger scales of landscape and urban
of movement for communication, with minimal
design. Although most of the guidelines are
hazards. Wider pathways can accommodate for
specifically for architectural interiors, much can
signers to converse while walking. Dependent on
be applied to the broader, exterior scales of the
place, pathways should allow for enough room
urban landscape. Here, I attempt to dissect the
for two or more people to sign; typically, smaller
DSDG (excluding "Acoustics and Electromagnetic
corridors should be a minimum of seven to eight
Interference," best suited for interior design), by
feet wide to accommodate two signers, while
selecting the guidelines that my Deaf colleagues
public sidewalks should be a minimum of ten feet
and I have found critical for urban space. To the
wide to accommodate for several groups of signers
Deaf community, the landscape is a rich sensory
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(and others) to pass through easily. 'Shoulder
experience; in the absence of sound, the visual,
Zones' act as dedicated buffer zones parallel to
tactile, and even the olfactory senses are amplified.
busy urban sidewalks and streets; they should include areas for eddies as well as street signage,
DEGREES OF ENCLOSURE: PUBLIC SPACE
lighting, and plantings. The pedestrian pathway
A comfortable degree of enclosure would provide
should be kept clear of barriers and should always
seen. One is able to feel secure from behind, with a view opening outward toward public activity. This can be achieved through the design of alcoves,
be designed with visual dominance and safety lighting, particularly at busy vehicular intersections. Matthew Sampson, also a Deaf graduate student in urban planning at Georgetown University, describes GU : ISSUE 07
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a safe, semi-private space for people to see and be
TEXTURED TRANSITION to provide cues between sidewalk, planting areas, and the street 'SHOULDER ZONE' to create a buffer zone between the sidewalk and the street
DEGREE OF ENCLOSURE to create a secure,
semi-private space to see and be seen
NIGHT LIGHTING to create safer, more visible streets after dark
FLEXIBLE SEATING to accommodate small to large groups joining in conversation
WIDER PATHWAY a minimum of 10 feet to provide space for conversation and circulation RHYTHM to create visual patterns along sidewalk edges, aiding in spatial understanding
VISUAL CUE to increase awareness and safety,
especially at busy intersections
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AN URBAN DEAFSCAPE
Image by author and Courtney Ferris
is a critique of the planning profession itself. Many of these guidelines appear to be standard practice in streetscape design, as per the ADA. However, they are often overlooked or treated as an afterthought. Applying these simple guidelines to streets has the potential to go beyond the ADA in creating space for the Deaf community, increasing safety, improving circulation, and making better urban landscapes for all.
curb bump-outs—or areas where sidewalks bulb
TRANSPARENCY AND REFLECTIVITY
out at busy intersections—as "a way of reclaiming
Transparency is primarily applied to building
pedestrian land, putting pedestrians in the driver's field of view," which can create the visual security required by those who are Deaf as well as security for other pedestrians. Ramps are preferred by many in the Deaf community; they can prevent barriers to conversation and minimize tripping hazards posed by stairs. They should be kept wide as pathways to accommodate for visual conversation. VISUAL AND TACTILE CUES Shared sensory reach is deeply rooted practice in Deaf culture. Visual cues can aid people who are Deaf to safely use and travel through public space. View corridors can visually connect different parts of a larger public realm, creating a visible hierarchy that can be achieved topographically and through the planting of trees. Landmarks
interiors and windows, but creating flow between interior and exterior—extending the line of sight outdoors—allows for greater use, understanding, and connection to the surrounding landscape. Reflection can be applied to many landscape and urban materials (e.g., stone, metal, wood) to create subtle clues about surrounding activity. Materials should not be overly reflective to avoid undesirable glare. Natural lighting and night lighting should be maximized to prevent eye strain, but shaded exterior paths are also crucial for glare-free
comfort on sidewalks, which can be achieved with tree canopies and overhangs. FIXED AND FLEXIBLE FURNITURE Furniture, too, plays an important role in the Deaf community’s use of the public realm. Flexible
and placement of design elements can also aid in
seating that is light, durable, and movable allows
orientation within a larger space. Danielle Koplitz,
for accommodation of small to large groups of
a Deaf graduate student in architecture at the
people joining in signed conversation. Circular or
University of Texas, notes the use of topography
U-shaped tables and chairs allow for a sustained
"to show transition from one space to another"
line of sight. Fixed seating and pedestals (e.g.,
and "indicate important buildings or a change in
low-rise walls and planter edges) at different
the purpose of space" on her campus in Austin.
heights allow for places to set down belongings,
Textured transitions provide subtle cues to
which can be obstructive to signing. Both types of
differentiate between edges of the ground plane
seating encourage mixed social use and can be
and thresholds, as well as safety cues along the
applied in various forms to parks and plazas within
edge of curbs, which are crucial for the DeafBlind
the urban landscape.
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community. Easing and eliminating curbs in public more access to people who use wheelchairs or baby strollers. Rhythm can be employed in the landscape to provide continuous, recognizable visual references and alignment for signers. Tree placement (and canopy) is especially important in creating a visible pattern in the urban landscape along sidewalks. According to Sean Maiwald, a Deaf graduate student in public policy at The George Washington University, "immediate visual indicators of space" are crucial and should allow for wayfinding and understanding of use, "especially at a quick glance." Color (e.g., planting, façades, signage) can provide contrast for signing as well as visual orientation for wayfinding in busy urban hubs.
ENDNOTES 1 Gallaudet University is the only university in the world designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and provides bilingual education in English and American Sign Language. Three of my colleagues quoted here (Behm, Maiwald, and Koplitz) are alumni of Gallaudet and contributed to DeafSpace in various forms and stages over the years, from conception to application. 2 Deafness is a spectrum: Deaf with a capital 'D' describes individuals that identify with a central deaf, cultural identity and who primarily use sign language. Hard of Hearing (HoH) describes individuals with some degree of hearing. Hearing impaired is an unacceptable medical term to the Deaf community; it carries a negative connotation, views Deafness as an impediment to well-being, and invalidates Deaf language and culture. Furthermore, DeafBlind describes individuals who are both deaf and blind, with a unique cultural identity of their own. 3 Bauman, Hansel. DeafSpace Design Guidelines, Volume 1. (Working Draft) 2010. 4 The ADA has focused on visual emergency systems (e.g., strobe alarms) in places like hotels and real-time captioning in stadiums for the Deaf and HoH. 5 H.R. 620 (The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017), if passed, will provide amnesty for access violators, allowing businesses to ignore ADA requirements until notified by a person with a disability, indefinitely. The burden is thus shifted to the person experiencing access discrimination, causing loss of civil rights to public space granted by the ADA of 1990. GU : ISSUE 07
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spaces can also limit tripping hazards and provide