inter:praxxis womxn's building regulations 2020

womxn’s building regulations 2020 inter:praxxis feminist architecture approved document

what is it to be a womxn?

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how womxn live

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designing for womxn and inclusivity

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making space for womxn in the built environment

contents page use of guidance

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the workplace (health, safety and welfare) regulations 1992 the equality act 2010 and the equality act 2010 (disability) regulations 2010

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glossary

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XX.01 what is it to be a womxn?

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heforshe inclusion campaign

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XX.02 how womxn live

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what defines a womxn sex and gender. is there a difference? whats the relationship between gender and sex? transgender: as much a women as anyone else? yes back to gender calling for an inclusive moment men get affected too

how women work

not all women work the same

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the relationship between depending on women, and their flexibility

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a womxn’s day is never linear

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the wing - a women focused. co-working space we are not 80% of men

XX.03 designing for womxn and

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safety & comfort changing facility

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contents page 21 21 22 23 24

window design furniture design stairs & resting access & parking toilets

bibliography

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furniture book

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use of guidance the approved documents

the workplace (health, safety and welfare) regulations 1992

This document is one of a series that has been approved and issued by the Secretary of Praxxis for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the requirements of the feminist architecture.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 as amended by The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/2174) contain some requirements which affect building design. The main requirements are now covered by the Building Regulations, but for further information see: ‘Workplace health, safety and welfare. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Approved Code of Practice’ L24.

Published by HSE Books 1992 (ISBN 0 7176 0413 6).

At the back of this document is a list of all the documents that have been approved and issued by the Secretary of Praxxis for this purpose.

Approved Documents are intended to provide guidance for some of the more common building situations.

However, there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements. Thus there is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an Approved Document if you prefer to meet the relevant requirement in some other way.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to the common parts of flats and similar buildings if people such as cleaners and caretakers are employed to work in these common parts. Where the requirements of the Building Regulations that are covered by this Part do not apply to dwellings, the provisions may still be required in the situations described above in order to satisfy the Workplace Regulations.

other requirements The guidance contained in an Approved Document relates only to the particular requirements of the Regulations which the document addresses. The building work will also have to comply with the requirements of any other relevant paragraphs in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.

the equality act 2010 and the equality act 2010 (disability) regulations 2010

There are Approved Documents which give guidance on each of the Parts of Schedule 1 and on Regulation 7.

The Equality Act 2010 (the EA) brings together existing equalities legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, with the aims of strengthening and also harmonising existing provisions into a single streamlined framework of equalities legislation to deliver better outcomes for the protected groups listed.

mixed use development In mixed use developments part of a building may be used as a dwelling while another part has a nondomestic use.

In such cases, if the requirements of the Regulations for dwellings and non-domestic use differ, the requirements for non- domestic use should apply in any shared parts of the building.

The EA (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ ukpga/2010/15/contents) imposes a duty to make reasonable adjustments to a physical feature in order to comply with the requirements set out in section 20 of the EA. The duty is set out in Schedule 2 (in relation to public functions and service providers); Schedule 8 (in relation to employers) and Schedule 15 (in relation to associations) of the EA. Although the guidance in this Approved Document, if followed, tends to demonstrate compliance with

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use of guidance

Part M of the Building Regulations, this does not necessarily equate to compliance with the obligations and duties set out in the EA. This is because service providers and employers are required by the EA to make reasonable adjustment to any physical feature which might put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person.

In some instances this will include designing features or making reasonable adjustments to features which are outside the scope of Approved Document M. It remains for the persons undertaking building works to consider if further provision, beyond that described in Approved Document M, is appropriate.

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use of guidance glossary of terms advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. A person who puts a case on someone else’s behalf.

heteronormative: of, relating to, or based on and promotes the attitude that heterosexuality is the only normal and natural expression of sexuality or preferred sexual orientation

care: the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something

intersectional: (or intersectional feminism) is a branch of feminism asserting how all aspects of social and political identities discrimination overlap.

cisgender: people whose gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth.

marginalise: to treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral.

diversity: Differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation, and geographical area.

patriarchy: a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is reckoned through the male line

feminisation: to give a feminine quality to.

second wave: second-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the United States in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades.

It quickly spread across the Western world, with an aim to increase equality for womxn by gaining more than just enfranchisement.

feminism: the advocacy of womxn’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

security: protection of a person, building, community, against threats such as crime or attacks

feminist: a person who supports feminism.

third wave: third-wave feminists sought to question, reclaim, and redefine the ideas, words, and media that have transmitted ideas about womxnhood, gender, beauty, sexuality, femininity, and masculinity, among other things.

empowerment: the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.

first wave: first-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that occurred during the 19th and early 20th century throughout the Western world. It focused on legal issues, primarily on gaining the right to vote.

togetherness: the pleasant feeling of being close to a group of people; belonging

gaslighting: manipulating (someone) by psychological means into doubting their own sanity.

trans-gender / transgender: denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.

gender fluid: denoting or relating to a person who does not identify themselves as having a fixed gender.

transman: a female-to-male transsexual.

gender Identity: An individual’s own sense of self as a womxn, man, transgender, or none or other gender identities. gender identity may or may not conform to an individual’s biological sex

transsexual: a person who emotionally and psychologically feels that they belong to the opposite sex. transwoman: a male-to-female transsexual.

gender roles: the role or behaviour learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by the prevailing cultural norms.

vulnerability: the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

gentrification: the process of renovating, improving or rebuilding an urban district or neighbourhood so that it conforms to ‘middle-class taste’.

womxn: an alternative term for the English language word women which has been occasionally in use since 2015 to explicitly include non-cisgender women.

glass ceiling: an unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting womxn and members of minorities.

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approved document making space for womxn in the built environment

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what is it to be a womxn?

what is a ‘womxn’? what defines a womxn? how do you define a womxn?

“womxn have been making great strides in the world, so what if we were doing it without recognizing our complexity and uniqueness?” (unknown, 2015)

a question that has caused rising tensions amongst various feminist groups. some say the question shouldn’t be up for debate at all.

in our perception, womxn are usually expected to be fully present in life while compartmentalizing or downplaying part of themselves. this isn’t good enough. touching on our own individual experiences, we are surrounded by powerful womxn who-defied the stereotypes and biology and did not allow the societal definition of a ‘womxn’ to define their position in life.

amongst these same feminist movements, it is a reminder that womxn can control their narrative. however, it seems there is an ongoing force that tries to diminish the light. from singular perspectives, and online debates discussing stereotypes, hormones psychology or biology they would tell you that a womxn is:

Linda Bellos, a feminist writer and activist highlights the strong influence of powerful womxn in her childhood which allows her to grasp the magnitudes of their lives. she tells us how her life was split between the loving homes of her grandmother and mother. in an interview she mentions in asking her grandmother about her perspective on the definition of a womxn, to which she replied:

“an adult human female.” (oxford dictionary, 2003) this ‘biological’ answer only goes to show that such a powerful, intricate and varied group of people are condensed into such sterile categories with little to no recognition of what lies beneath. in a patriarchal society, womxn are endlessly breaking boundaries by being vocal. they continue to persevere and seek to inspire others that identify as womxn despite the chaos and backlash.

“we’re all females when we are born. But not all of us turn into womxn. being a womxn is defined by your accomplishments, ` whatever those look like to you.”(Seeley, b. 2017)

it appears that such question has no definitive answer and most importantly, is nearly absent from our current world discussions. but does this matter? surely to some extent it does? womxn around the world share their different stories and enable each other to connect with a greater purpose and, in turn, with theirs. by seeing beyond the stereotypes, moving past the biology and breaking free from the constraints, womxn are empowered to reside in changing what it means to be a womxn in the world. which is being themselves.

in the same interview Bellos also mentions her single mother, who worked 3 jobs tirelessly to provide a healthy environment for her to flourish in amidst a custody battle in the 1980’s. a time when nearly all parents were awarded joint custody despite situations. whilst Bellos views her mother’s actions as sacrifice, her mother says its her greatest accomplishment. “watching my children grow and flourish while providing them all the unconditional love they need to do it gracefully. no problem is too small or too big for my girls to call for help.”

herself. a womxn defines herself.

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the experiences of these two womxn highlights how we are perceived and understood. it shows that we all place importance on different aspects of being a womxn. whether we are students, new mothers, transgendered, artists, business womxn and more the power in being a womxn is understanding that there are differences in each of us and as long as we are able to respect one another, womxn are reminders

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understanding aspects of what it means to be a womxn sex and gender. is there a difference?

“one is not born a womxn, but rather becomes one.”

- Simone De Beauvoir, The Second Sex

we frequently ask ourselves what it means to be male or female, a man or a woman? with scientists, philosophers, artists, writers and activists debating its definition and relevance the ideology surrounding gender has become a battlefield. we are yet to understand where the line lies where ‘man’ becomes ‘woman’ and vice versa. is it to do with a particular kind of brain? do men and women have different brains? or is it a question of possessing the ‘right’ genitals? are people who may transition reinforcing the suggestion that there are fundamental differences between the two? are there?

gender identity as with gender, gender identity is a spectrum and ones own personal understanding of their gender and how they wish to be perceived. for many of those who are cisgender, their identity is automatically respected. a cisgender man is automatically treated as a man. his autonomy is acknowledged and he/ him/his is used when addressing him. as feminists, it is important to treat everyone with this level of respect. we must be fully aware that each individual is their own and unique and may have a different interpretation of gender towards themselves.

it isn’t as simple as you think

What does being a man mean to you?

“Well, although my body is male there is very little else about me that is remotely masculine . . . so err, I’m just going to have to say being a man to me is simply having a male gender identity. In my case I am also only comfortable in a male body.”

again biology and society typically tells us there are two sexes: male and female. just as it tells us there are two genders: man and womxn. we are told that those who are assigned male at birth become men and female become womxn. however, gender should not be seen as an ‘either/or’ scenario, but a spectrum.

- Adrian Dalton, Male Transgender Activist

what’s the relationship between gender and sex?

for some, gender and sex can align. for those who are cisgender, the expectation that if you’re assigned male or female at birth makes you a man/woman demonstrates so. but if we take into consideration those who are trans, and non conforming, the sex they’re assigned at birth may differ with the gender they identify as.

How do you feel about the phrase “born in the wrong body”?

“I hate that phrase, I wasn’t born in the wrong body, I was born with the wrong genitals. That’s all, my body is fine, The way I see it I had a birth defect that I got sorted with surgery and medication. People feel quite okay with saying that about trans people, but you’d never say that to someone who was disabled.”

- Bethany Black, Female Lesbian Transgender Activist

ultimately, as a society we assign sex and gender to people based on socially agreed characteristics, which leaves the concepts of gender and sex to be a social construct. in 1949, Simone De Beauvoir published in his book ‘The Second Sex’ when someone is not born a woman, but rather becomes one. since then, waves of this popular claim has led attributing differences between men and women to depend on socialisation rather than what humans biologically consist of.

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understanding aspects of what it means to be a womxn the enemy between trans and cisgender womxn? misogyny. ‘amid an explosion of misogyny in public life, compassion and unity are more important than ever’. zoe williams, a guardian columnist strongly argues with the notion that feminist solidarity empowers everyone. (william z, 2020) one would assume, that the feminist discussion would soon tilt away from ‘which body parts define a womxn’ towards a more fundamental question:

What does being a womxn mean to you?

“I have no idea what it feels like to be a womxn. I don’t do gender.

It is harmful and a total social construct that serves to reinforce patriarchy and womxn’s subordination to men. I wish to eradicate gender - that is the feminist goal - but for now we need to keep the identity of “female” in order to track how our oppression is effecting us.”

- Julie Bindel, Feminist Campaigner and Writer ..

who has it worse?

In our experience, and to our knowledge, feminism takes the side of the oppressed. that is our rationale. despite this, the ongoing exclusion of transwomxn (and men) only shows that within our advocacy, binary debates are striking to have, but boring to live. entirely contrary to our real objective.

Do you think there is such a thing as a “male brain” and a “female brain”?

“I think there are innate differences between individuals, but no innate differences between the sexes...”

our raison d’etre? Solidarity. to show solidarity is stale when spoken about but empowering to live. solidarity knows no exclusivity nor is pedantic. but is compassionate and fights injustice where it finds it. that is why transwomxn are womxn.

- Gia Milinovich, Science Enthusiast

transgender: as much a womxn as anyone else? yes

Helen Belcher, british activist and liberal democrat politician highlighted three ways in which trans people are portrayed and undermined in the media and beyond (real life):

ultimately, transgender people’s rights should not be up for debate. Yet, sadly they are. the debate has focused largely on the voices of those who deny the right of trans womxn to be considered at all. as feminists, it is important we are unequivocally supportive of the empowerment of transwomxn whilst protecting the status of cisgender womxn leaving us stronger united. the enemy? misogyny. we must fight against it and recognise our transwomxn are nothing but our allies, and history bears out their role in this activism just as equally as the liberation for the LGBT community. it is claimed that gender-critical feminist are ‘continuously silenced’. however, this claim is not strong, not least when those that are allegedly ‘silencing’ others tend to be cisgender womxn themselves. womxn should not be seen or known to be monolith, because they’re not. many of us wlecome our trans sisters (and brothers) with open arms.

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Transpeople are fraudulent.

They are not who they say are.

We should humour them in their ‘delusions’.

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Transgender people as undeserving deviants.

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Transgender people as comedy.

thumbs down theory (william z, 2020)

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understanding aspects of what it means to be a womxn for example;

since making this judgement, it seems this has only intensified, as other further hostile activities are added: transpeople as predators.

transpeople as poisoners.

the negative and savage narrative has only grown so much that there is now less of ‘humouring’ them.

- in order to end sexual violence, we must make ourselves aware of the statistics declaring that transwomxn encounter higher rates of sexual abuse alongside the transphobia it surrounds.

- to constrain the harassment of womxn in religious attire, we must acknowledge the historical and ongoing animosity towards religious societies.

back to gender

- movements that address eating disorders must be inclusive of womxn with all body types, and must avoid ‘fat-shaming’ or ‘skinny-shaming’.

making sure we understand trans people for who they truly are is necessary. when trans people are acknowledged as the sex they were assigned at birth rather than who they identify to be, it can have a significant burden on their physical, mental and mostly, emotional health. for example, this could result in difficulty to obtain fundamental rights, such as healthcare and even puts them out of reach to basic necessities, such as public toilets.

we must understand that we cannot seperate gender from religion, race, sexuality or socio-economic backgrounds. therefore enforcing that the feminist movement must be obliging to this intersectionality.

men get affected too

from this, we should know what side feminism should take on in this fight: the side of empathy and kindness. this way the importance of being an ally in a battle we have all sustained will be recognised.

we have to remember, it is not only womxn who collectively face the harmful repercussions of sexist behaviour that is deeply sewn into the fabric of society.

calling for an inclusive movement

frequently known to be ‘womxn’s issues’ such as rape and eating disorders these undeniably affect men too. what we must know is that in ignoring the fact men encounter these problems or labelling such cases as ‘exceptions’, we disregard the troubling reality that men, too, endure and suffer from destructive patriarchal structures. we are reminded that the feminist movement itself stems from a worldwide failure to recognise the inclusion of womxn and therefore must appreciate the wider significance of these ‘womxn’s issues’.

feminism, by definition is the belief that men and womxn should have EQUAL rights and opportunities. briefly shifting the focus towards men, it is somewhat safe to say that generally men tend to be ‘insecure about what constitutes their success’ and imprisoned by gender stereotypes. if we urge men to jump on the womxn’s empowerment bandwagon we would soon see that

the prosperity of the feminist movement pivots on the solidarity of men and womxn. as womxn, we confront our varying situations and histories. because we are able to unite in our past and ongoing struggles towards empowerment, it enables us to fill out our missions of safeguarding gender equality. as feminism constantly intersects with other social campaigns, the many shades within the ‘feminist umbrella’ restricts a ‘one size fits all’ attitude towards womxn’s empowerment.

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understanding aspects of what it means to be a womxn heforshe inclusion campaign a solidarity campaign for gender equality that “brings together one half of humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the entirety of humanity.”(wilhem h, 2014) as well as encouraging men to fight for gender equality, we must extend the feminist movement to consider the core between gender, sexuality, race, religion and body image. it is imperative that the perspectives and experiences of individuals from various branches of feminism are brought together into mainstrem feminist discourse. this avoids the exclusion and alienation of individuals who risk facing systemic oppressions. despite the glocal struggle for the empowerment of womxn, despite the widespread injustices posed by race, religion and sexuality, we are confident solidarity will prevail. ‘we’ can still come together to accentuate the truth beyond dispute, that striving for a gender-united world is essential. by introducing the discussion of inclusivity in the feminist movement, we can start to make our first steps to solidarity.

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approved document making space for womxn in the built environment

XX.02

how womxn live

approaches and perseptions how womxn work

the wing - a womxn’s focused co - working space

the concept work of most forms, but primarily paid labour, constitutes a great part of most individual’s sense of self. we know work to conventionally be regarded as an area that is distinguished from our social and domestic lives. it is also evidently stipulated that work is associated with the masculine identity whilst the home and family are primary to the fabrication of femininity. today, the notion of ‘womxn’s work’ is heavily associated with the labelling of womxn as ‘dependants’ and furthermore obscures their contribution to family enterprises.

the wing is a co-working members space built for womxn, by womxn. encouraging in-house interaction; the wing believes the most powerful way to advance womxn is to bring them together. co-working spaces have become the phenomena of our time. they are a smart response to the new freelance age and the wing offers something far more than the average space. it offers womxn a way of life, community, network and a space to create. here, female empowerment pervades everything. As feminists we can take from their methods to analyse how womxn work.

the feminist approach

teamwork

as feminists, it is important we stress that labour cannot be narrowly based on employment or productivity. we must recognise that the acitvities of womxn in the home also constitute as work.

...within architecture once we grasp the understanding of feminism as a matrix of politically conscious environmental, social and spatial strategies, we are prepared to experiment with new models that accommodate more sustainable and mostly inclusive architecture culture. feminists operate from the standpoint that everyone is valued and considered and therefore require architects to operate differently as designers too and think about the spaces we design and its types of users. solving for feminism in architecture boils down to making room for choice. it is to see and be seen, a thing men and non binary people tend to find useful too. alongside the design features that are explicitly paid attention to and thoughtfully female.

womxn work in teams in plenty aspects of their everyday lives, womxn tend to more sociable and therefore find themselves interacting with more people, working in a team is an important aspect of their lives.

feminism promotes womxn working together and supporting each-other in each of their works. teamwork from womxn is the firm and prominent ground that the feminist movement stands on. it is at the forefront of our drive. the wing has formed a team devoted and dedicated to diversity and womxn of all backgrounds and ages. offering free year-long memberships to individuals working night jobs as well as non - profit organisations, in education and in social services. they also hold monthly events and socials for all members to come and present, promote and network ideas to each-other as well as well renowned industry professionals who can potentially become investors to their businesses.

“it’s not just to create autonomous and separate spaces [for womxn], but to think about the intersections between people who use spaces” (king e, 2017) - lori brown, architect and co-founder of architexx

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approaches and perceptions size? we are not ‘80%’ of men

personal in the workspace, womxn support each-other in many ways. however, one side of support that is embossed is through personal aspects of their lives. whether it be regarding relationships, family or even identity womxn are continuously growing to uplift each other by understanding where everyone is coming from and relating to one another.

in the world today, when it comes to design, we are so accustomed to thinking of men as the ‘default’ and womxn as the subcategory. In other words, womxn are seen to be a ‘variety of man’. from spacesuits, to military equipment and even everyday essentials like furniture are primarily designed for the size and restrictions of a man. this concept is harmful and neglecting of the womxn’s ergonomic, which consequently leaves us in a bias world. womxn are expected to put up with a world designed for men that assumes womxn are ‘80%’ of a man’s size.

feminism boils down to the individual and their personal. It is about regardless of who we are and where we may come from we all have that mutual understanding of each other. we are womxn. we know the personal of womxn, and therefore have to provide for the personal aspect of womxn.

the wing makes sure they promote the understanding of womxn as their personal lives. womxn don’t just work, they provide and the responsibilities and roles that we have as a collective differ greatly to other genders.

neither average man or average womxn exists, everyone is unique, there can’t be a one sizes fits all. body positivity is feminist, because it has to be intersectional. womxn are not just their bodies, but their identities affects their experience within their bodies and societies experience. we come in all shapes and sizes and so feminism acknowledges that.

in support of this, the wing has opened its own nursery, little wing for its member’s children. this allows members to come in and work whilst their child is looked after without them having to worry about who is going to ‘babysit’. other facilities such as a pump room for breastfeeding babies and ‘beauty rooms’ (which provides hair care products for all womxn of different races) are also incorporated into the spaces.

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the wing goes further with their special dedication towards womxn. not only are their locations architecturally designed by womxn. however, their interior designer, Chiara De Rege has taken time to create custom furniture designed to fit the precise ergonomic specifications of not only the average womxn, but womxn of different sizes and stages in life. For example, pregnancy lounge chairs that still enable one to position themselves to work comfor ably.

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approaches and perceptions not all womxn work the same

a womxn’s day is never linear

firstly, one fact that is highly overlooked but very important is that not all womxn work the same. as individuals with different choices, lifestyles and interests we all have our unique path and approach to how we live our lives. the world seems to forget that. what is expected of most womxn, is as they become older to get married, have children, look after them until they are old enough to look after themselves, whilst possibly working a professional job on the side. this is not always the case. womxn choose to carry out their lives and decisions differently, some of us have dependants, whilst some none at all. others live a heavily professional life and at the same time a few spend their lives giving support to masses.

In a womxn’s world the day is never as straightforward as we’d imagine. womxn tend to have days that filled from start to finish with various commitments regardless of who they are. whether big or small, we acknowledge that our responsibilities become part of our everyday lives somehow. In Invisible women, Caroline Criado Perez highlights this. mapping out these movements can help us see how schedules, tasks and just everyday life can become easier and more efficient for womxn. see the next page for diagrams depicting types of days.

the relationship between depending on womxn, and their flexibility womxn are so highly depended on from people around them in so many aspects of their personal to professional lives. in relationships, families, and even within the workplace. however, one popular dependency of womxn is from motherhood. a path numerous womxn have willingly chosen to embark on. feminism and motherhood have a complex relationship. Shulamith Firestone, a feminist argued that ‘womxn would truly never be free of patriarchy until they are released from the yoke of reproduction’. (westervelt a 2018) a quite controversial statement. as in contrast Adrienne Rich, another feminist argued that the source of womxn’s oppression stems more from the partiarchal notion of motherhood rather than the experience of mothering. while these views lie, it is apparent that many activist womxn (especially womxn of colour) saw not only freedom but agency in motherhood. what we tend to forget is, the dependency of mothers, creates the flexibility of other womxn and therefore impacts all womxn whether they have children or not.

Those who are not mothers, bear a largely unseen burden from the general lack of support for working mothers. whilst working mothers continue to have those depend on them, and are being stretched thin, those without children tend to end up covering their maternity leaves and working unpaid overtime since they dont have ‘dependants’ to go home to.

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approaches and perceptions typical linear day

end

start mother on maternity leave calls till 12noon

catches up on eating/ reading

1st call of the day 2nd call

online class picks daughter homework

calls till 1pm

start

child’s bedtime

dinner

4.30pm

wakes up School daughter

doctors appointment

back to calls

end

grocery shopping

professional working single mother arrives at office prepares breakfast start wakes up kids

lunch

back to work

leaves office 3pm

commutes to work

walk

eats

prepares takes dinner shower

picks up kids

after school activities

walks to bus stop

end

watches TV kids go to bed young transgender student teacher

shower

eats breakfast

bus

neighbourhood chores school starts

walk half day home-time

start

figure 2.01

arrives at school

preparation

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walks dog

returns home

end dinner

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prepares clothes for next day

marks work

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XX.03

designing for womxn and inclusivity

key aspects - designing for all womxn safety and comfort

1. reception on one side limits view through space

XX 03.01 thresholds 1.1 the entrance should be clear and distinct, there should be no entrances accessed through alleyways.

2. reception centrally located allows for surveillance throughout the whole space

1. not clear that it is a through pathway

2. no direct line of sight to the entrance

3. if the reception is set back it limits the view through the space

figure 3.01

1.2 lobby areas within the building should be open

to everyone for safety purposes, even if the main building itself is not open to the public. the lobby will be used as a means to escape a situation for personal safety, ensuring it meets requirements within part M for communal access spaces.

1.3

1.4

4. a reception in the centre of a space allows for 360 degree views, enabling the most passive surveillance

doors accessing the building should be power assisted to aid those with mobility issues, the door should meet part M with regards to accessing a building and the spacing within the lobby to allow wheelchairs to pass by each other. i) you must ensure there is a level threshold, which is also free from obstruction to enable all to access the building freely. figure 3.02

ii) you must ensure internal thresholds remain level and power assisted doors are implemented where necessary.

1.5

XX 03.03 glazing and faรงades 3.1 considering the programme within the building,

there should be a free emergency phone for people to access.

what level of visibility can there be into the spaces?

XX 03.02 passive surveillance

3.2 utilising the heights and angles of glazing enables

2.1 enabling the safety of those within a space

you to ensure light enters the building but direct views into the buildings are not possible - this is the case with carefully designed facades.

through the use of passive surveillance.

2.2 there should be a central reception area where

possible which allows for an overview of the building to ensure those using the space are safe.

3.3 referencing approved document Q. for glazing

aspects (windows should be made to a design that has been shown by test to meet the security requirements of british standards publications PAS 24:2012)

2.3 where a reception space is not possible

consider glazing solution as mentioned in XX 03.06

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key aspects - designing for all womxn changing facilities XX 03.04 sizes & requirements 3.4 you should consider perforated facade panels

4.1 refer to chapter XX 01. for defining reasons

or screens to reduce visibility and increase safety. you should ensure lighting is still entering these spaces and that the people are able to see out, screen systems should have perforations larger than 500mm per square metre unless there is more than 25 perforations equally spaced and sized per square metre, (the use of perforations for patterns and images do not need to be evenly spaced as long as they cover more that 85% of the screen), this should apply when the building is used by the following people:

behind this item being implemented.

4.2 within a space designed to accommodate

anyone who identifies as a womxn there should be a changing space as a minimum requirement. this will be in addition to the toilets.

4.3 minimum requirements and sizes

the space should be large enough for a wheelchair to access, (relating to part M1/3 5.5 & 5.8 wheelchair access toilets) with additonal space for movement.

a) children b) vulnerable people

4.4 there should be a bench or chair along with a

series of hooks for clothing items to be hung, 1 series at 1500mm and another at 1000mm from FFL.

NOTE: in some cases such as outdoor space this may not be achievable due to location of space in relation to other buildings and walkways.

4.5 a larger changing room including shower cubical

elevation view of facade

should still contain requirement from minimum changing space, in addition there should be locker or cupboard space for personal items.

4.6 the following is not a requirement, however

could enhance the space for the users and provide added safety and comfort. a dressing room space, which houses the changing rooms. this space should include suitable furniture and access for wheelchair users.

1. type of perforated facade to allow light into the space, whilst keeping internal privacy. elevation view of facade

NOTE: if this space is focused for wheelchair access, the changing space should include an accessible toilet as well as a shower.

XX 03.05 changing place 5.1 specifically for larger power assisted wheelchair

users; a) there must be a toilet and shower within this space b) with a hoist system to allow for ease of use. c) there must be adequate space for storage of motorised wheelchair to ensure it doesn’t not get wet. d) there must be storage and additional bench for usage by person within that space.

2. fin style facade - achieving the same effect. figure 3.03

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e) there must be a curtain for privacy enclosing both shower and toilet individually.

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key aspects - designing for all womxn

f) the changing place must be on the national register, this enables the space to be known and accessible to those who need to use the facility.

need to provide direct lines of sight.

XX 03.07 resting space

window design

7.1 following on from the dimension guide, the use

of resting within the window sill area can provide a quite and relaxing space for people to enjoy.

XX 03.05 dimension guide 5.1 windows are used to naturally ventilate a building in relation to part F building regulation. however, there is no set size for a window within that regulation.

7.2 the resting space should be safe for everyone to

5.2 heights and depth of sills are an important aspect

or if it is a hard surface the edges should be curved to ensure there are no sharp elements in which someone could injure themselves

use (based on XX 03.04)

7.3 the materials of the sill should be either padded

of the building design.

i) height of the sill should be accessible for people to sit either 300-700mm for adult specific spaces or 200-450mm for children specific spaces

7.4 in cases where the seat is used for disabled or

wheelchair users there must be grab rails on the window frame and the seat itself must be padded for comfort

ii) the window sill height should be over 700mm if the window is looking over a highly populated area, for privacy purposes if there are vulnerable people within that space

furniture design

XX 03.08 dimension guide 8.1 referring back to XX 02 section on size, this is a prominent aspect that must be considered when thinking about who will be using the space.

5.3 the depth of the window sill should allow people to sit either parallel or perpendicular to the window frame, therefore the depth should be 350mm-500mm.

8.2 if designing the furniture for the space then the

designer must consider the average sizes of womxn and how womxn use space differently, please see appendix 01 for reference on how to design specifically for womxn’s sizes.

XX 03.06 privacy and passive surveillance

6.1 visibility is a key factor when it comes to the

design of a window, in specific relation to privacy within the building (linking back to XX 03.03 glazing.) passive surveillance allows for safety and security within a building or space

6.2 privacy - windows should be 21m window to

window or 10m from the rear elevation to rear boundary. windows that are closer than this should be made translucent or have some form of screen to obscure the view over neighbours properties. (as mentioned in XX 03.03 on facade and glazing.)

6.3 passive surveillance - where possible open plan

building enable for passive surveillance to occur within a building. however, incorporating ‘light well’ and ‘atria’ through the use of windows enables a space to become secure and safe. buildings wanting to achieve a level of passive surveillance (for safety and security) should use central lighting wells to provide visual connections across a space, glazing would

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figure 3.04

8.3 however if the building is utilising furniture that already exists, consider the next section on form for information on how to design and space and the furniture within.

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XX 03.09 form

XX 03.10 space

9.1 if the furniture that is being placed into the

10.1 there must be a consideration of space, how

people should move between the furniture and the open space within an area.

building is not designed for that space specifically, then the furniture must adhere to a series of requirements to ensure that it is inclusive and suitable for those using it.

10.2 fixed furniture should allow for movement and

ensure enough space for turning circle of 1500mm with reference to part M

9.2 furniture that can, such as tables/chairs/

counter-tops should be adjustable for use by all.

10.3 the space (room) should be efficiently utilised to

9.3 fixed furniture such as cupboard/shelves/

ensure there is no clashes between items, ensuring people can move freely. for example door swings should not impede each or the movement of people.

toilets/sinks should be inclusive of steps either as part of the item or as an addition for use by all.

9.4 items in multi-use space should be light and easy

10.4 in a children’s specific environment small divides

to manoeuvre, this could be through the use of wheels, light-weight materials or fold away systems

between the space should be included to allow the room to be divided in a children-friendly manner. this could be through soft play items, book shelves, etc.

NOTE: there should be no need for wheelchair specific furniture as all furniture will adhere to

NOTE: this will enable a better learning environment for the children.

1. tables must be at different heights enabling all to use them

1070mm

1. temporary furniture to divide children’s space and provide separate space for specific activities

970mm

2. adjustable tables are another option to suit all users (changing the height)

figure 3.06

stairs and resting XX 03.11 dimension guide 3. adjustable chairs allow use by all

11.1 with the continuation of adhering to the current guidance on stair regulations within part K.

11.2 further development of those current ideas,

considering the width of the stairs as an opportunity to create spaces of interaction and rest, much like the window element in section XX 03.05.

figure 3.05

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key aspects - designing for all womxn access & parking XX 03.12 who can access?

11.3 by increasing the width of the stairway to

12.1 the following guidance is not a requirement but

1800mm the movement on the stairs would remain the same, however it would enable the ability for a break/pausing point on the journey.

is highly suggested if the users of the space are children or vulnerable people.

12.2 relating back to XX 03.01 for lobby inclusion, a

11.4 where the stairways are utilised as a feature

lobby is not a requirement, however, if included it must adhere to requirements previously mentioned such as; no clashing of doorways/ automatic doors, etc.

within the building, there should be an effort to incorporate a series of resting steps which enable breaks. this should be included on either side of the stairway, enabling a space for a rest of break from the day.

12.3 you should include reception area within the

building, either upon entry or in a centrally located space, with nothing obscuring the view, which will guide people and perform passive surveillance throughout the building.

11.5 the widened section of the stairway could be

located in a series of locations through out the stairway, rather than the whole set of stairs being made wider. for example the utilisation of the landing space for resting by increasing its size.

12.4 consider public access point within the building,

if the space is for all ensure the entrance way (door) is clear and open (welcoming). defining the boundary between public and private areas.

11.6 railings would be vitally important within this design.

1. steps can be broken up with large steps for seating for resting and having breaks.

XX 03.13 inclusion policy 13.1 when designing a space with the consideration

of all types of people the building itself should enable all the feel comfortable and safe.

13.2 there should be consideration with regards to

changes you can make to the design and use of the building to address these aspects. following the guide set up in this document will assist, however is there other things that could be carried out? for example, inclusion of breast feeding room, etc.

seating

XX 03.14 children 14.1 accessing a space for children changes the way in

which something is laid out and the level at which a child sees something needs to be considered.

2. larger landings allow for seating around the outside.

14.2 the use of child-friendly door sizes allow an

seating

understanding of who can use the space. so that children know where they are allowed to go, and when they need an adult present to go other places.

the use of colour should be evident in space specific for children to enable them to understand 14.3 where they can play and move freely. figure 3.07

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retail commercial

m2 1 space per 20 m2

or key aspects - designing for all womxnplace worship

XX 03.15 parking and pregnancy parking 15.1 in an attempt to reduce the number of people using

cars and encourage the use of public transport/ exercise, the number of standard parking spaces to be included has no minimum quantity.

15.2 disabled parking - originally 4% of standard parking spaces needed to be disabled.

15.3 there are no set rules for child or pregnancy

parking, however it is advised to include these within the parking facility. (in a similar manner to the disabled parking at 4%)

15.4 generally, the ratio is calculated by dividing the number of vehicle parking spaces into the building’s square footage, and expressing the result per 1,000 square feet. Take a retail plaza with 300 parking spots and 60,000 square feet of shopping space. To calculate the parking ratio, divide 300 by 60.

15.5 suggested guidance as follows, (for public

buildings please take into account additions council regulations where necessary)

1 space per 3 seats 1 space per 3 staff - 1 space leisure centre per 3 players - 1 space per 3 spectators

education centre (secondary school)

1 space per teaching staff 1 space per 2 ancillary staff 1 space per 10 pupils over age 17 One third of total staff provision for visitors

café/ restaurant

1 space per 3 m2

nursery

1 space per 5 m2

at least 1 of each space unless over 50 spaces, then 4% of spaces to be disabled, 2% pregnancy parking

at least 1 of each space unless over 50 spaces, then 4% of spaces to be disabled, 2% pregnancy parking

more pregnancy parking should be provided in child focused locations >2%

table 3.01

toilets (universal) XX 03.16 single unit toilet

parking building use retail commercial

number of spaces 1 space per 14 m2 1 space per 20 m2

place or worship

1 space per 3 seats 1 space per 3 staff - 1 space leisure centre per 3 players - 1 space per 3 spectators

16.1 an area containing toilets that can be accessible disabled/pregn ancy parking

at least 1 of each space unless over 50 spaces, then 4% of spaces to be disabled, 2% pregnancy parking

1 space per teaching staff 1 space per 2 education at least 1 of each ancillary staff 1 centre space unless over space per 10 50 spaces, then (secondary pupils over age 4% of spaces to be 17 One third of school) disabled, 2% total staff inter:praxxis feminist architecture pregnancy parking24 provision for visitors

café/

1 space per 3

by all. they provide cubicles for mobile users, the toilets are all gender-less and those with reduced mobility know they can access the same area, where toilets will comply with part M.

16.2 to ensure there is no labelling when defining

toilets you should use the following information when including toilets within the building; a) toilets should be one single unit which contain a toilet and a sink. b) the building can include either both standard and disabled access toilets. i) standard sizes: minimum 1400mmx800mm ii) disabled: minimum 2200mmx1500mm OR c) only disabled access only d) the toilet should be its own room and the door should sit flush with the floor (gap to ensure closing) for privacy purposes.

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key aspects - designing for all womxn

16.3 accessible toilets should be located on the

2. standard and disabled access toilet facilities, indicating width of hallway for ease of movement

ground floor where possible and should be easily accessible from the outside. enabling public and civic buildings to allow anyone access to use of the toilet facilities without the need to purchase ticket or item from cafe. this provides safety and comfort for those who may have mobility issues.

16.4 each toilet must include mechanical ventilation to ensure it complies with part F.

XX 03.17 hallway (entrance) 17.1 the entrance to these individual toilet units should

be accessed from a central corridor. this will help prevent

1800mm min

i) noises from travelling into public spaces figure 3.09

ii) smells from travelling into public spaces ii) the avoidance of clashing with persons leaving or entering the toilet space

17.2 the corridor enables a separate and secure space to move freely to and from the toilets.

17.3 the corridor must be accessible for all, therefore the corridor must be minimum 1800mm to ensure two wheelchairs can pass each other at any one time. this also links with part B for means of escape during a fire.

1. standard single unit toilet facilities. wide hallway for movement and noise and smell reduction.

1800mm min figure 3.08

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bibliography reference material approved documents Ventilation: Approved Document F

Strength, However They Identify | Suzanne Moore. [online] the Guardian. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/ commentisfree/2020/mar/10/i-wisheveryone-strength-however-they-identifysuzanne-moore> [Accessed 20 March 2020].

Protection from falling, collision and impact: Approved Document K Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

BBC News. 2020. Who, Or What, Defines You As A Woman?. [online] Available at: <https:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-42864916/ who-or -what-defines-you-as-a-woman> [Accessed 20 March 2020].

Security in dwellings: Approved Document Q

web-pages and journal articles BBC News. 2020. Who, Or What, Defines You As A Woman?. [online] Available at: <https:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-42864916/ who-or -what-defines-you-as-a-woman> [Accessed 18 March 2020].

the Guardian. 2020. Trans Or Cis, Women Are Stronger United | Letters. [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian. com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/12/trans-orcis-women-are-stronger-united> [Accessed 18 March 2020].

Nytimes.com. 2020. Opinion | What Makes A Woman?. [online] Available at: <https://www. nytimes.com/2015/06/07/opinion/sunday/ what-makes-a-woman.html> [Accessed 21 March 2020].

Williams, Z., 2020. Feminist Solidarity Empowers Everyone. The Movement Must Be TransInclusive | Zoe Williams. [online] the Guardian.

Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/ society/2020/mar/10/feminist-solidarityempowers-everyone-the-movement-must-betrans-inclusive> [Accessed 22 March 2020].

Huffpost.com. 2020. Huffpost Is Now A Part Of Verizon Media. [online] Available at: <https:// www.huffpost.com/entry/what-does-it-meanto-be-a-woman_b_5465872> [Accessed 20 March 2020].

Karpf, A., 2020. We All Benefit From A More Gender-Equal Society. Even Men | Anne Karpf. [online] the Guardian. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/ commentisfree/2020/mar/08/gender equal-international-womens-day -men> [Accessed 19 March 2020].

Newstatesman.com. 2020. The Battle Over Gender: What Makes You A Man Or A Woman, Anyway?. [online] Available at: <https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/ feminism/2013/09/battle-over-genderwhat-makes-you-man-or-woman-anyway> [Accessed 24 March 2020].

Nytimes.com. 2020. Opinion | What Makes A Woman?. [online] Available at: <https://www. nytimes.com/2015/06/07/opinion/sunday/ what-makes-a-woman.html> [Accessed 22 March 2020].

Barnard Center for Research on Women.

2020. Feminism, Gender Justice, And Trans Inclusion: Web Resources | Barnard Center For Research On Women. [online] Available at: <http://bcrw.barnard.edu/feminism-genderjustice-and-trans-inclusion-web-resources/> [Accessed 30 March 2020].

Brown Girl Magazine. 2020. What Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Like Being A Woman. [online] Available at: <https:// www.browngirlmagazine.com/2020/03/ what-its-like-being-a-woman/> [Accessed 22 March 2020].

Huffpost.com. 2020. Huffpost Is Now A Part Of Verizon Media. [online] Available at: <https://www.huffpost.com/entry/calling-foran-inclusive-feminist-movement_b_5885548> [Accessed 29 March 2020].

Moore, S., 2020. I Wish Everyone Raw

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bibliography reference material web-pages and journal articles Glaser, E., 2020. Invisible Women By Caroline Criado Perez â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A World Designed For Men. [online] the Guardian. Available at: <https:// w w w. t he g u a r d i a n . c o m / b o o ks / 2 019 / feb/28/invisible-women-by-caroline-criadoperez-review> [Accessed 28 March 2020].

BBC News. 2020. Eight Ways The World Is Not Designed For Women. [online] Available at: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-uscanada-47725946> [Accessed 28 March 2020].

Schwab, K. (2018). The Subtle Sexism Of Your Open Plan Office. [online] Fast Company.

Available at: https://www.fastcompany. com/90170941/the-subtle-sexism-of-youropen-plan-office [Accessed 30 Mar. 2020].

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x furniture x design: its x all x x about x WOMXN

table of contents

adjustibility comfort and safety

flexibility materiality

movement personal furniture design:

its all about WOMXN

introduction: in this chapter on materiality we will guide you through a series of design steps that will lead to best choice of materials for the product you are designing. it is important to consider many of the other chapters within this book as an initial guide to the style of the item, which in turn will assist in informing your decision of materials. what to expect? within this section we cover all ranges of design, and consider the implication of cost, availability based on location, environmental standards and sustainable sourcing of materials. we will initially run through a series of materials, which will be explored in more depth throughout this chapter. we will advise of strength or materials, weight and cost depending on your intentions. sustainable and environmentally friendly materials and design methods see page 30.

choice of materials: softwood...........................................................................................43 hardwood.........................................................................................44 composite materials.........................................................................45 metal/metal alloys............................................................................47 glass...................................................................................................49 plastics..............................................................................................51 fabrics...............................................................................................53 cardboard........................................................................................55 concrete............................................................................................57 ceramics............................................................................................59 adhesives...........................................................................................61 resin..................................................................................................63 stone..................................................................................................65 carbon fibre.......................................................................................67 following on from the choice of materiality, the consideration of bonding techniques will enable you to decide the best method to create the item based on the use of materials and how they work together. tips and guides of previously undertaken furniture design tasks will assist and inspire throughout out this guide.