UNIVERSAL DESIGN OF BUILDINGS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Barrier-free accessibility has been introduced in Singapore since 1990. Barrier-free accessibility is important because it promotes independent living and with Singapore’s ageing population, it becomes a necessity. Many countries consider barrier-free accessibility seriously by passing laws that make it mandatory. United States of America started enacting accessibility through the Architectural Barriers Act in 1968 and Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The UK mandates accessibility through the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which has since been replaced by The Equality Act 2010.

New buildings in Singapore must comply with the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, while older buildings largely remain inaccessible due to the reluctance of building owners to undertake accessibility upgrades. This is in spite of the monetary incentives given by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

This dissertation considers the accessibility concerns of the disabled community in Singapore and identifies the factors affecting universal design. Perceptions on accessibility and universal design of different stakeholders of the built environment are also studied to identify the possible differences in expectations.

Interview questionnaires were used to collect information from building professionals and end users of buildings. The findings showed that despite the general improvement in accessibility in the built environment in Singapore, the disabled community and the elderly still find it difficult to gain access to buildings without physical barriers.

The relatively low number of responses constituted the main limitation of this study. Recommendations were made based on the findings and analysis.