Kerala for All conclave: Design public spaces to ensure access for all, says Manoj Kumar Kini

Experts at Kerala for All conclave emphasize the need for inclusive urban design tailored to local contexts for better accessibility.

Highlighting the need to integrate urban design into urban planning, a panel of experts has called for greater synergy among stakeholders to make inclusivity and accessibility standard in public projects.

Speaking on Designing Accessible Spaces: Infrastructure, Transport and Public Areas at the Kerala for All conclave, organised by Kerala Tourism and The Hindu, Manoj Kumar Kini, urban design consultant, said public design auditing should be institutionalised. He also cited the We Park in Kollam as a prime example of a public space designed to ensure accessibility for all.

“In a democracy, translating policy into implementation is often difficult and cumbersome. Two key factors that can smooth this process are social awareness and collaboration among various stakeholders, including the general public,” he pointed out.

Biju Kuriakose, co-founder of architectureRED, emphasised the need to sensitise people to the concept of shared living. “Our policymakers are not approaching inclusivity holistically. We cannot merely emulate urban design models from developed countries; we need to evolve a model suited to our own context,” he said.

Referring to the We Park model, he stressed the importance of implementing smaller, practical ideas of inclusivity on the ground while keeping long-term goals in view. “It is almost as if we have forgotten social infrastructure while building large cities,” he added.

Sheetal Uday Harpale, architect and empanelled Universal Accessibility Auditor, highlighted that inclusivity should be addressed at micro, meso and macro levels, encompassing both people with disabilities and the geriatric population. “There is a significant gap between urban designers and urban policy, and this needs to be bridged,” she said.