Head of Research Group: Sidse Grangaard.

Our research

Activity and participation are generally physically situated, and therefore, the design of the built environment determines the opportunities for participation that are offered. This applies to all people, regardless of age, gender, functional capacity, or ethnicity. Age is a particularly important factor because our needs change as we grow older. The Universal Design Research Group investigates how the built environment can be socially sustainable and, therefore, inclusive and health-promoting for everyone.

Research focus

Need for new knowledge

Universal design, inclusive architecture, and social sustainability are updated through the principle of ‘Leave no one behind’ from the UN's 2030 Agenda. Here, the focus is on ensuring that vulnerable groups are not left behind and that all people are included in achieving a sustainable society where everyone can participate and contribute, even if we have different abilities and needs.
In the Danish context, there are two key factors that highlight the need for more knowledge. With Building Regulations now adopting performance-based requirements, it is no longer sufficient to incorporate solutions based solely on simple considerations that target only a fraction of users, rather than being designed for all users. Therefore, there is a need for knowledge about user needs and good examples, as well as how to ensure an ideal process, where users' needs are incorporated from the outset as part of the architecture – from the program to the design and through to the final implementation.
The second factor is demographic change, which has created an increased need for knowledge on how to develop optimal physical environments for the elderly and those living with dementia.

Research Efforts

The interaction between users and the built environment, both indoors and outdoors, regardless of scale, is the starting point for the research group's efforts. This means that the human body is considered as a whole, with sensory, cognitive, and physical needs and abilities taken into account. We continually work to deepen our understanding of this interaction, both in terms of needs and how the built environment can support and stimulate. We do this through studies, evaluations, and tests. Our approach is primarily qualitative and incorporates various methodological aspects, ranging from anthropological fieldwork and interviews to interventional studies and measurements.

The group works within three main themes: users, solutions, and processes.

• The research aims to clarify knowledge about and understanding of users' needs and experiences. Diversity in user needs requires diversity in solutions, and the research includes, for example, more knowledge about the importance of daylight, wayfinding, and scents in relation to users’ well-being and opportunities for participation.
• The efforts concerning solutions apply to both new construction and existing buildings. The focus is on publicly accessible buildings and places, as well as housing and landscapes.
• The research process is approached broadly and ranges from the building framework and working practices to user involvement and the development of methodologies.

Collaborators

Through public sector services, the Universal Design Research Group continuously contributes to the Danish Housing and Planning Agency's efforts regarding regulation and guidance, providing a knowledge base. The group's members are active in various networks, both academic and practice-oriented, such as the Danish Association of Construction Clients.

Application

The group's research is disseminated internationally to peers and nationally to the construction industry. The Universal Design Research Group launched the website www.rumsans.dk, a site about universal design, which is financed by government funds for social purposes via the Danish Authority of Social Services and Housing. The purpose of the site is to inspire, qualify, and influence a change in the construction industry's attitudes and practices towards universal design. In addition, the Universal Design Research Group teaches at AAU.