Inclusive landscape design: creating places for everyone

Being in the mountains brings me joy, but what truly makes me even happier is seeing more and more challenging mountainous areas becoming accessible to everyone, not just climbers. These stunning places now offer a sense of belonging and an experience to all visitors. Whenever I visit stunning regions like the Dolomites in the Alps, I always pay attention to the practical solutions that have been put in place to make these challenging landscapes accessible to all tourists, regardless of age or physical ability.

Accessible design is about creating barrier-free spaces that provide equal opportunities for everyone to participate. Building an inclusive environment looks different for each project and often requires specialised knowledge, creative solutions, and collaboration with the entire design team from the offset.

Why inclusive landscape design must start beyond the building threshold

In my experience as an accessibility consultant, we often focus on inclusive design starting from the threshold onwards and overlook the importance of the surrounding external areas. These spaces can be awkward and inconvenient to address, sometimes involving boundary issues and forcing coordination between the architect and civil engineer in ways that feel premature. However, pushing these concerns aside only leads to lingering problems that become more difficult to resolve as the project progresses, no matter how many notes are added to the drawings.

Key principles of inclusive landscape design

Inclusive landscape design focuses on the following key principles:

• Pedestrian routes should be designed to be easily identifiable, direct, and convenient, supporting intuitive wayfinding to building entrances and associated facilities without relying on elaborate signage.
• People with movement impairments require ample space to navigate. To ensure accessibility, the minimum width of an access route (e.g., between walls, kerbs, or path edgings) should ideally be 1800mm. If that isn’t possible, the width should be at least 1500mm, with passing places of 1800mm x 2000mm provided every 25 meters. Surfaces should be firm, stable, and slip-resistant. Uneven surfaces, loose materials and large gaps between paving can create challenges for wheelchair users, people using buggies, and those who are unsteady on their feet.
• Level or gently sloped routes (not steeper than 1:20) should be prioritised, with landings provided at the top and bottom, and at every 500 mm change in level. In cases where this isn’t feasible (e.g., existing sites or buildings), ramps with a maximum gradient of 1:12, incorporating handrails and landings, can be used, alongside stepped routes to support people with ambulant mobility impairments. Any changes in level should be assessed for fall risk and addressed with appropriate safety measures.
• Tactile surfaces that can be detected by feet or a cane are an effective way to enhance inclusivity. These should be used at pedestrian crossings or at the top and bottom of steps to signal changes in level. Dropped kerbs help eliminate the height difference between the path and the road or accessible parking spaces, allowing for easy passage for wheelchair users, strollers, and individuals with mobility impairments.
• A clear, unobstructed area of 1800mm × 1800mm (or at least 1500mm × 1500mm for existing buildings) in front of entrances is essential to allow for manoeuvring. An accessible threshold also helps create an inclusive environment.
• Minimising obstacles is key to creating accessible outdoor spaces. This means removing or relocating any objects that obstruct access paths, such as road signs, lighting poles, benches, planters, or trash cans. A vertical clearance of 2100mm should be maintained along paths to prevent head injuries. If this clearance cannot be achieved, install barriers to safely guide users.
• Adequate lighting is crucial for making outdoor spaces accessible to all, not just those with visual impairments. Proper lighting helps people distinguish between different surfaces and objects, while also offering a sense of security and comfort. Using contrasting colours for paths and surrounding areas, along with clearly marked path edges, can greatly improve visibility and safety.

Designing landscapes that welcome everyone

Our Accessibility Team provides consultancy services across a wide range of challenging projects, from existing and protected structures to large-scale residential and industrial developments. The team is engaged from the very beginning of a project to ensure that both the buildings and their surrounding environments are accessible and safe for everyone.

These are some of the projects we have been involved in: Seven Mills, Sea Gardens, Malahide Road, Grange Castle West, and Fort Dunree.

Also, for more information on how everyone can enjoy the Dolomites with accessible itineraries, head to the Visit Dolomites website.

Over the past few years, I’ve seen a notable improvement in the creation of inclusive spaces. Much of this progress can be credited to architects, consultants, investors, and developers who are committed to breaking down barriers and constantly asking, “What can we do better?” and seeing these changes unfold brings me joy.

As professionals in the construction industry, we have a responsibility to design spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing and functional but also accessible and safe for everyone. By doing so, we play a part in building a more inclusive society.