Towards an Inclusive Architecture - Case studies from the Brazilian Parliament

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Abstract

In this paper we present a synthesis of two case studies of inclusive architectural design implemented at the Brazilian Parliament, by the Division for Accessibility and Sustainable Architecture. The Brazilian Parliament is a 150.000 m2 architectural complex, designed by the world-wide known architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1958, in Brasilia. Its architecture, as Brasilia itself, is an international reference of Modernist Movement. Consequently, one of the main challenges faced by architects responsible to maintain and adapt the building complex to present demands is: how to make this huge and important architectural complex accessible and intelligible to everyone, without affecting its symbolic and cultural value? The answer has been the proposal of an architecture committed not only with the basis of accessibility standards, but the overall improvement of the space quality, taking inclusiveness as the starting point.

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