Gallaudet University’s new dorm was designed according to the principles of the DeafSpace Project, “an initiative that sought to develop architectural guidelines to improve how deaf people interact with their built surroundings”:
The tiny design details that are the mark of DeafSpace begin with the building’s entrance. As students near the building, a set of clear glass paneled doors slide open, allowing people to continue their conversation uninterrupted. Most students who attend Gallaudet communicate through ASL [American Sign Language], meaning they need space, and most importantly, eye contact to communicate efficiently. For the hearing impaired, a door that requires the physical act of opening and closing is akin to a booming announcement over intercom speakers for a hearing person—anything that stops students in their tracks or interrupts the flow of conversation is a bad thing. Which is why every detail–from the topography of the floor-plan to the colors on the wall–are taken into consideration with DeafSpace.
[Architect David] Lewis points out that the ground floor’s community room has a subtle amphitheater-like slope that when viewed through the wall of windows, is clearly in line with the natural incline of the campus’ landscape. “Someone walking on the sidewalk on the outside is actually parallel to someone walking on the inside and can communicate across that glass through sign language in a way that literally makes the building transparent,” he explains.
Another building on campus is featured in the above video and it follows many of the same principles as the new dorm. Update from a reader:
I was surprised to see that the video didn’t contain any subtitles to ensure that the Gallaudet community could actually understand what was being said about their campus and their culture.
And I was amused that the camera person often seemed to zoom in on the person’s hands, perhaps thinking they were signing (when in fact it was just hearing person gesturing). Ironic videography and disappointing to see, in both cases. Perhaps it was the case that the video was not made or intended for deaf or hard of hearing people, which leads me to my central question of why do you think our non-film American media culture has not yet fully recognized the need for or embraced the addition of subtitles (even as an option) to their videos in order to ensure equal access of information to those who are hard of hearing or cannot hear?
I recently started dating a deaf person and very rarely think about her as being deaf except for when I watch online videos. Watching online videos, especially ones that I want to share with Katie, remind me that I have unlimited access to anything auditory, whereas most of the information in auditory videos is not directly accessible to deaf or hard of hearing people. Netflix seems to do wonders with its option for subtitles; Katie and I have indulged in watching Orange is the New Black together :o)
Another reader adds:
Out here on the West Coast, your post on “deaf architecture” has an analogy in Berkeley’s Ed Roberts Campus, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects and completed a few years ago as the headquarters for a consortium of disability right and service organizations. The interior is organized around a spiral ramp that gives those who can’t climb stairs the primacy in moving through the building, and the rest of the structure – from bathroom design, to decor – stresses universal accessibility and usefulness.
Previous Dish on Gallaudet and deaf culture here.
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