As a commercial sector developer, Godrej Fund Management decided to put universal design at the core of our efforts to put Grade-A Commercial developments into the market. That's because, as a company, we know that we have a profound responsibility to create spaces that work for everyone, regardless of their background, abilities, or needs.

That's why our prime focus over the last year has been designing everything we do, keeping people with disabilities in mind. At work, we recognise that talent is not limited by physical differences between individuals. On our projects, we take special care to ensure that people with a multitude of capabilities feel like they belong in the spaces we create.

The differently abled represent unique ways of living that demand multifaceted architectural solutions. According to the World Bank, approximately 1 billion people, equivalent to 15% of the global population, live with some form of disability. As our world ages, this percentage is likely to increase further.

Built environments can either serve as barriers or pathways to inclusion for people with disabilities, seniors, genders and other diverse groups. While mandatory codes often focus on basic accessibility features like ramps and tactile paving, innovative design and technology can take us beyond these requirements. The future demands a holistic approach that integrates accessibility seamlessly into the design process. We must envision solutions that go beyond our current imagination.

Understanding Our Users: Here are some of the ways in which we recognize the diverse needs of people with disabilities:

• Physical Disabilities: These include mobility impairments, wheelchair users, and those with limited strength or coordination.

• Visual Impairments: People with low vision or blindness rely on tactile cues, auditory signals, and clear pathways.

• Hearing Impairments: Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals benefit from visual cues, well-lit spaces, and clear communication.

• Cognitive and Neurodiverse Conditions: Design should consider sensory sensitivities, wayfinding, and minimizing distractions.

All GFM projects understand that we navigate space with more than one sense.

Charting your journey: Our projects ensure a seamless arrival and exit experience through their premises. We pay attention to the details of wheelchair access through ramps maneuvering level changes, automated sliding doors at all entrances and exits, QR-enabled turnstiles, and automated destination control at elevators. Parking slots for people with disabilities are ear-marked at the 1st Basement level to allow for quick and closest access to a shuttle elevator lobby.

Clear and high contrast signage has been designed to ensure that people with partially sighted conditions are able to find their way.

Comfort at workplaces: In office areas, to ensure ease of movement and privacy for all, facilities for people with disabilities include an ample circulation zone for wheelchair users to maximise their mobility. These facilities are provided on each floor. At arm's length from the washrooms at entrance-level, we've ensured that lactation/mothers' rooms allow new parents to attend to children in comfort and privacy. These mother's rooms are designed to be close to daycare and creche facilities, to further add to parents' comfort.

A sense of belonging: In all our buildings, specialized services that are aimed at making the user experience seamless for users with disabilities, are located along with universal accommodations. Through this, we try to ensure that people of all abilities feel the same sense of belonging and ownership of their office.

Special care has been taken to ensure that traffic management for vehicles used by people with disabilities are always allowed direct access to the lobby entrance, an access point that is otherwise staggered for non-disabled users.

Technology takes us higher (literally): GFM leverages technological advances for the benefit of all, through the introduction of Braille-enabled call buttons at all elevator banks, audio chime provisions within lift cars, and touch-free access through segregated turnstiles for the use of people with disabilities.

Motivation multipliers: Outdoor play equipment introduced in our purposefully designed outdoor pavilions is meant to serve as a cognitive relief zone for people on the autism spectrum. We aim for people with neuro-diverse cognitive abilities to feel nurtured through our landscape features such as calming water bodies and dynamic amphitheatres. These features create opportunities for engagement amongst different kinds of people and personalities something we believe is essential to embracing diversity and allowing it to prosper.

Having taken our first steps to becoming a staunch flag-bearer of accessibility in building projects, we're venturing deeper into making the world a better place for all, through other additions of value. These include:

• The introduction of strobe lights, to aid Deaf/hard-of-hearing persons in the event of a calamity, such as a fire.

• The introduction of textured tactile surfaces which indicate level change, and other key amenities for persons with visual impairments and blindness.

• The introduction of acoustics in all interior spaces we design, to aid persons with partial deafness to be able to distinguish sounds clearly

• The use of roller blinds and material contrasts to aid persons with partial blindness to differentiate surfaces.

• Changing stations for caregivers within washrooms

• Height-adjustable desks & wheelchair friendly workstations

For us, inclusive architectural design isn't just about compliance. It's about creating spaces that empower and enable all users. By prioritizing accessibility, we're taking our first steps to contribute to a more equitable and compassionate world.

Text by GFM team. Image taken from Flickr.