A universally designed campus landscape master plan at Miami University : Oxford, Ohio

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Authors
Vaughn, Jessica K.
Advisor
Marlow, Christopher M.
Motloch, John L.
Yigit-Turan, Burcu
Issue Date
2011
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.L.A.)
Department
College of Architecture and Planning
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The location of this project was at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami’s campus exhibits a classic, charming architecture and a well-planned landscape. However, this campus did not fully facilitate the needs of disabled users in the built environment. By developing a “universally designed campus landscape master plan,” this design accommodated the needs of Miami University students, faculty, staff, and visitors by creating an accessible and unified circulati on plan throughout the campus. Hyper-sensory nodes were also implemented throughout the quad, enhancing each of the five senses in a unique and invidual way. This allowed site users who could not see the campus to touch, smell, and hear the campus; users who could not hear the campus to see, touch, and smell the landscape; and users who could not navigate the landscape to experience the landscape with other users equally. The main purpose of this project at Miami University was to provide equal access to users of all abilities including auditory, visual, and mobility impaired individuals throughout the campus by implementing an aesthetically pleasing landscape design. This landscape design produced a single landscape design solution that accommodated all people with disabilities as well as the rest of the population, eliminating social and physical separation. This design benefi ts everyone, allowing all users to interact freely and equally. This campus landscape design embraced the idea that environments should be usable by all people, to the largest extent achievable, without the need for specialized, isolated design.