Pattern Language of Accessible Communities and Application to Community Planning

Accessible Environment Pattern Language Community Planning Cross-scale Mapping

Author(s): CAI Jiaxiu, LIU Kun, SUN Jichen, FU Yicheng
Journal: 南方建筑

Against a background of new human-centered urbanization, the development of accessible cities has become an important task to cope with an aging population and to enhance social inclusion and urban civilization. Community is the public space that has the closest connection to the daily lives of citizens. However, it is a weak aspect of accessible environment construction. To facilitate the construction of accessible cities, it is imperative to urgently investigate more effective planning and design methodologies for accessible communities. This is an important way to comprehensively improve overall urban accessibility. 　　

The construction of accessible communities requires not only the seamless cross-scale integration of the professional construction of accessible environments with the daily lives and experiences of communities but also guidance by the construction of an accessible material environment. This requires local consensus, co-construction, and co-governance of the accessible environment to create a vibrant social atmosphere. To transform cross-scale and systematic professional practices into technical tools for the construction of multidimensional accessible communities, this study introduced pattern language theory, which combines universal laws and local applications. Pattern language theory factors in the output of professional technologies and it is convenient for public understanding and use. It is applicable to the practice of participatory planning design with explicit topics.

Pattern language is composed of individual patterns and pattern networks. Based on domestic and international norms and standards, social surveys and experiential research, this study first comprehensively considered the concept and components of an accessible community, observed the principles of comprehensiveness, non-duplication, and consensus, and extracted the individual patterns of accessible communities. Subsequently, individual patterns were clustered into eight clusters: conceptual consensus, institutional safeguard, co-construction, inclusive service, wayfinding system, smooth pathway, healing landscape, and universal architecture. The pattern network of individual patterns was built using the pattern matrix. 　　

Based on the Special Plan for An Accessible City in Shenzhen, the pattern language of accessible community was practiced in Jiahua New Village in Shenzhen. Residents recognized current problems based on daily life experiences and searched for solution paths in the "Answer Bank" of pattern language for accessible communities. Under the guidance of planners, elements were integrated to obtain a clear and feasible pattern network. The pattern network was implemented in the built environment to form planning and design schemes. During practices, the public, or active subjects, entered into the topic quickly based on the pattern language, intervened in the whole process of scheme deduction, and effectively reached a consensus on accessible community construction. 　　

With the increasing demand for the construction of accessible communities, it is crucial to provide paths for disadvantaged groups and groups with special needs to express their views. Based on the theoretical framework of pattern language, this study explored the participatory planning method; this broke down challenges in public participation and was applicable to the transformation of planning design results. A set of pattern languages of accessible community with complete structures was built, applied and tested in community practices. This was a long-term and dynamic process, involving repeated consolidation and updating between theoretical building and practical applications. Future studies will combine more accessible community renovation projects and continue to perfect and trace tests of pattern language for accessible communities, aiming to form more stable and universally accessible design tools.

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Cite (APA style): Cai, J., Lin, K., Sun, J., & Fun, Y. (2024). 无障碍社区模式语言建构及社区规划应用 [Pattern language of accessible community and the application on community planning]. 南方建筑 [South Architecture], 169(03), 99-107.