EDeAN - Design for All

Environments and Products

Finnish barrier free design approaches


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A visually impaired man with a white cane negotiating a paved area

Marjala is a residential suburb of Joensuu, north-east of Helsinki , with a planned population of 3,000, is designed as a 'city for all' and an experiment in large scale barrier-free design. Finland is a country with very positive attitudes towards ageing and disability.

A special set of building regulations was developed for the scheme to allow complete access and mobility both inside and out, with imaginative signage and wayfinding. By harnessing new information technologies it has been possible to develop alternative ways of providing services, in particular tele-care based around a co-operative day-care home, and to offer new work opportunities.

Reference: Coleman R (1997) Design für die Zukunft, Cologne , DuMont Buchverlag. ISBN 3-7701-4187-3 Published in German language only. English language versions of the text are available in request from the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre.

Related documents

Case Studies from Europe: Finland

Download the full text here  (PDF document)

Design für die Zukunft.

A copy of this document can be found in the Inclusive Design Special Collection at the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre at the Royal College of Art.
Inclusive Design Special Collection  (External website)





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