Architecture and deafness

S

Stiggero

New Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
edit: been trying for a while to answer and to engage a discussio, but it never shows up as a moderator needs to approve my messages..


Hello,

As an European architecture student, I'm writing a paper about the perception of space by disabled persons. I currently started researching the relationship between architecture and deafness :hmm:, the goal is of course to improve architecture from the point of view of a deaf person. I would greatly appreciate some simple testimonies, which would help me a lot and would give me some other fresh perspectives compared to the pile of theoretical books that I have next to me.


1. Do small public spaces, with limited sensory reach, have a real negative influence on the state of mind of a deaf person?

2. Are there any other situations within an urban space / building, that made you feel uncomfortable? (or the opposite)

3. Have you ever felt disorientated because of your handicap, while knowing that hearing-enabled persons wouldn't have such a problem?

4. Do you mainly rely on visual cues in order to observe your surrounding, or do other cues (vibrations, breezes of air etc.) have a major impact on your perception of your surroundings?

Thank you!

(I would love if it could turn into a discussion, as unlike other disabilities, it's really hard to encounter deaf persons in the daily life. I'll stick around on the board :D)
 
Last edited:
metalangel said:
:thumbd:

I suggest you look up Gallaudet University's DeafSpace project.
Click to expand...

The deafspace project is the reason of how i got here actually. It's just a pity that the guidelines of the DeafSpace project aren't published, as it could help alot of architects.

P.s. I did not realize that that word offended you. I changed my original post
 
What a weird question, why the hell would the way a building is designed make us uncomfortable?? have a negative influence on our state of mind, deaf doesn't make you claustrophobic or some shit.

Although.....not everyone who is deaf is able to get use out of hearing aids, but some us can. A room or building that is really echoey is really annoying. I picked up my daughter at her friends house tonight, the girls were talking, and the parents were trying to talk to me. BUT they had no carpets and really high cathedral ceilings, omg I could never live there, I would never wear my hearing aids if I did, the echoing was horrid.

So that's my input, anti-echo design for deafies.
 
I see now that there is a link to an article about DeafSpace and more than just 1, short webpage. There seemed to be precious little information there other than that deaf people want to be able to see. So, they want to know what is happening in more rooms than the 1 that they are in. And, people who use sign have to be able to see each other.

First of all, there are all levels of hearing loss. I've just about covered them all over 5 decades. I know that the habit of compensating has a downside. The last few years, I've come to rely more and more on others - even at home.

Space within the build environment? The 1st thing I thought of when Gallaudet is talking about people gathering themselves in a circle is a meeting I attended in a large building about 10 years ago. I had some hearing and could get along quite well 1 on 1 but a group of about 15 people made TOO large a circle. The echoing within the room made it so that I essentially understood nothing. It was an important meeting for me because it involved help I felt was needed for a family member, who was not there. As someone needing information and trying to be an advocate - the experience was a frustrating one.

I am not stupid and I understand English. It has just become so that I understand very little spoken English in most situations. Seeing the person speak is essential but sometimes not enough.

Hard surfaces, like that building's floor, could have been my friend . . . if I could get a foot or 2 from it! I am forever trying to position myself so that I am close to a table or desk, leaning forward not only gets me closer to the person talking but puts my ears closer to that reflective surface. So, I could probably have heard more of what those 15 people were saying on their folding chairs if I had been lying on the floor!

I push myself against walls and actually try to attract people over towards me rather than stepping forward, out into a room. A corner is especially useful. It's great but I don't want to look like some kind of wall flower, kicking the potted palm out of the way and pressed into a corner.

The less of those potted plants and such that I'm close to in a room, the better. Heavy drapes may as well be wrapped around my head. Bare surfaces aren't necessarily good, as I say, if I am too far from them and there is echoing.

Of course, all of this is moot if there are too many bodies and conversation in the room. Funny how that is. The more communication going on around me, the less communication with old Adam. Auditoriums with rows and rows of chairs with human bodies sitting in them? Even with mega amplification - clarity will never break thru and no doubt I will be too far away from the speaker to read lips.
 
metalangel said:
:thumbd:
I suggest you look up Gallaudet University's DeafSpace project.
Click to expand...

That's actually the raison I'm here, I would love have some feedback as it gives me a better understanding of some of the guidelines of the Deaf Space Project

ambrosia said:
What a weird question, why the hell would the way a building is designed make us uncomfortable?? have a negative influence on our state of mind, deaf doesn't make you claustrophobic or some shit.
Click to expand...

My work is not just about "norms", it's about the understanding of the well being of a person within a space.

I'm aware that being deaf doesn't have a crazy huge impact, like you say. I'm just searching for those small little things that can bother you a bit more then another person ( like echo'ing in your case).

I'm of course not searching for the


AdamFencepost said:
I see now that there is a link to an article about DeafSpace and more than just 1, short webpage. There seemed to be precious little information there other than that deaf people want to be able to see. So, they want to know what is happening in more rooms than the 1 that they are in. And, people who use sign have to be able to see each other.

First of all, there are all levels of hearing loss. I've just about covered them all over 5 decades. I know that the habit of compensating has a downside. The last few years, I've come to rely more and more on others - even at home.

Space within the build environment? The 1st thing I thought of when Gallaudet is talking about people gathering themselves in a circle is a meeting I attended in a large building about 10 years ago. I had some hearing and could get along quite well 1 on 1 but a group of about 15 people made TOO large a circle. The echoing within the room made it so that I essentially understood nothing. It was an important meeting for me because it involved help I felt was needed for a family member, who was not there. As someone needing information and trying to be an advocate - the experience was a frustrating one.

I am not stupid and I understand English. It has just become so that I understand very little spoken English in most situations. Seeing the person speak is essential but sometimes not enough.

Hard surfaces, like that building's floor, could have been my friend . . . if I could get a foot or 2 from it! I am forever trying to position myself so that I am close to a table or desk, leaning forward not only gets me closer to the person talking but puts my ears closer to that reflective surface. So, I could probably have heard more of what those 15 people were saying on their folding chairs if I had been lying on the floor!

I push myself against walls and actually try to attract people over towards me rather than stepping forward, out into a room. A corner is especially useful. It's great but I don't want to look like some kind of wall flower, kicking the potted palm out of the way and pressed into a corner.

The less of those potted plants and such that I'm close to in a room, the better. Heavy drapes may as well be wrapped around my head. Bare surfaces aren't necessarily good, as I say, if I am too far from them and there is echoing.

Of course, all of this is moot if there are too many bodies and conversation in the room. Funny how that is. The more communication going on around me, the less communication with old Adam. Auditoriums with rows and rows of chairs with human bodies sitting in them? Even with mega amplification - clarity will never break thru and no doubt I will be too far away from the speaker to read lips.
Click to expand...

So what bothers is the acoustic problems when interacting with persons? But if you take out the social part, and suppose you're walking within a big shopping mall, does the noise around you bother you, as it will just sound like amplificated garbish?
 
Just give me a lot of room and some RC cars that have potential for a turbo engine swap. Sit back and watch me and anyone who are interested run around house with our turbocharged RC cars and laughing like kids.
 
I didn't think of echo control, but that is true. I was thinking open floor plan last night, but restrained my fingers, because my HA's give me adequate hearing for most situations. Those two go together, because without echo control, open floor plan would be a problem. Open floor plan also would facilitate radio waves for looping.
 
Back
Top