REDEAFINED

REDESIGNING ADEAFSPACE;DESIGNING ADEAFUTOPIA

AR538_CulturalContext

19th April2019

Sojia JohnsonThomas

WordCount:3000

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ABSTRACT

Spaces, in architecture, are meant to be a meaningful place, created for those individuals to feel comfortable, sheltered and motivated. These spaces are created, assuming, what would be necessary for a human being, to dwell or use it. The standards have been set for creating a space for a normal, healthy human, and for the physically disabled.

Deaf culture, is a community that describes the life style of the deaf, involving their own mode of communication, which is the sign language. It is one of the groups, where architecture has begun to show minor responses towards the design for these communities. The creation of space by incorporating the requirements of the deaf, may be defined as Deaf Space. The history of deaf culture states that these communities have always been isolated from the hearing community. The deaf spaces can be used by both the hearing and the deaf. But why not create a space that can be used only by the deaf? Creating and designing deaf spaces is considered as a privilege or a non-privilege to them? In a normal world, are the deaf privileged or unprivileged?

This report explores the possibility of redefining deaf spaces as spaces used only by the deaf community. The result is thus, reflected upon the Studio Design Project, which is a Sign Language Foundation

Figure1SignLanguage(Source:deaf-firstarchitecture)

INTRODUCTION

DeafCulture

Culture is defined as a collection of common routines, values, behaviour and common language. Language is a very important attribute in which one can feel isolated or can also isolate some individual on purpose. This, in turn could form as a communication barrier for several people, especially the deaf. Nine out of ten deaf children are born to hearing parents in UK.

The deaf is categorized in the group of disabled as well as non-disabled. There exists a wide tradition that the deaf was looked upon as a differently abled by the unknown or by the society. In the middle ages, the families were assumed to help and care for their dear ones, even if they turned out to be disabled. But they couldn’t care for the ones that were not prolific to the family. The physically disabled may not be of any help in a family of laborers, whereas could be helpful as a weaver or a teacher. Similarly, the deaf may be acceptable to a community of laborers, weaving, carpentry etc. but not to a community of teaching or communicating in any manner, which is the basic need in life. This then gradually creates a form of isolation for the deaf community.

In the early 19th century, the deaf were sent to Asylums for education, by the hearing people. The intention was to observe them learn how they respond to the hearing people1 . Later they were free, but turned the asylums into educational institutions, just like any other institutions.

But in fact, the damage was already done. The deaf already felt that they were completely being rejected by the other people. Even the physically disabled can blend into a normal community due to the common language he holds, which would be easy to socialize. Whereas the deaf does not have that privilege.

These could be the reasons why they tend to form a separate social community such as deaf clubs, deaf sports, deaf schools etc. The clubs involved several activities such as lectures, workshops, dramas, church etc.

Hence, deaf culture is a traditional deaf community, where they have developed a degree separately from the majority other cultures, via sign languages in deaf schools and other deaf education systems. 2Planning a space, considering the physically disabled, are now a rule and has become a universal design code, but not for the deaf. Architects have always designed an environment focusingonly the hearing. If the spaces were changed and designed where the deaf and hearing could use it, then those designs could be stated as standard design codes or universal design codes.

1 HistoryofBritish SignLanguage

2 UnderstandingDeafCulture:InSearchofDeafhood

Aim

To analyse the deaf culture, the existing deaf space design guidelines and to envisage a future lifestyle to the deaf community.

Objective

To design a deaf spaced urban environment or a deaf utopia where the hearing and the deaf ones could exist in a space with equal opportunities.

To prove that the deaf or hard of hearing are the privileged lot than the hearing majority.

To redesign the existing deaf space design guidelines.

Methodology

The research methodology will be carried out through qualitative method, interpreting contemporary situations.

At first there would be an argument regarding the deaf as privileged or unprivileged, by comparing them with the hearing majority.

Secondly, to include or add some of the design suggestions, that were necessary for the deaf space, in which the Gallaudet University did not mention in their design guidelines.

Thirdly, an imaginative description on the future of deaf space and the possible threat to sign language in the deaf community would be illustrated.

DESIGNING/REDEFININGDEAFSPACE

DEAFASAPRIVILEGED ORNON-PRIVILEGED?

The hearing may feel on top of the world than any other disabled in the community, due to all the senses that is entirely in function and no further obstacles related to such. It is indeed a wonderful blessing to have all the senses in a working manner, however, does that make these people superior to the other disabled? The deaf cannot be considered inferior to the hearing due to various aspects.

1) Loss of a sense, in this case, hearing, is not entirely a loss at all; it just means that they use other senses more strongly and powerful than the hearing majority. The deaf, in fact, use their visibility as a strong mode to understand the life experiences.

2) Deaf means, some may speak whereas some may not. But it is essential that they learn the language of signing in order to understand the basic features needed. This language is recommended at an early age for the children born as deaf or hard of hearing. However, the main characteristic is that the deaf have an extra language, in addition to the English language. Also, they are challenged in schools, to learn almost as equally as the other mainstream schools for more opportunities in their future. 3This leaves them in a very daring yet promising, if they succeed.

The points mentioned, could be a possibility that the deaf are privileged than the hearing community. But if asked, no one deliberately chooses to become deaf; it just happens due to biological and genetic disorder, which is irreversible or cannot be undone. This may prove that the deaf may not be considered as a disability but a privileged disability which leads to a certain unique culture, known as the deaf culture.

DESIGNING ASPACE ONLYFORTHE DEAFORHARDOFHEARING

The Gallaudet University, Washington had established the basic design guidelines for the deaf space. Some of it which were looked over, are mentioned below. These are few of the design suggestions that could have incorporated in the design guidelines.

Spaces that may be uncomfortable for the hearing but at the same time it may be comfortable to the non-hearing.

1) Creating an entire acoustic experience.

This experience would be fascination for the deaf whereas uncomfortable and irritating for the hearing due to the lack of sound reaching across a place to communicate. The signers do not need to shout to communicate, making it completely comfortable.

An intense acoustic space, that keeps the sounds hidden such as sounds of the HVAC, outside noises such as traffic, noises of crowded gatherings etc.

The use of acoustic mirrors on the ceiling or on heightened levels on the walls could be advantage to the signers and a little strain for the non-signers. The mirrors would operate as a mode of reflection for the deaf as they walk through the hallways or any gathering space, making it simpler for them to be aware of any such activity coming from their rear side. At the same time, the acoustic elements represent a medium in which, if one whispers towards these, then the whispers are heard at the far opposite end, where another mirror is placed. In this manner, the hearing lot would be forced to keep themselves from talking or even whispering!

Figure2DesignguidelinesbytheGallaudetUniversity(Source:DangermondKeanArchitecture)

2) Emergency Alerts

Usually the fire emergency in normal buildings are alerted by fire alarm. The fire alarm, unfortunately, cannot be heard by the deaf. The Gallaudet University had not mentioned about the emergency alert systems for the deaf space.

So, a means to do this is by keeping a visual apparatus, that would enable it to vibrate or shake vigorously, in order to capture the attention of the deaf and hard of hearing beings. This system could be done during the daytime, whereas at night, there could be a system of blackout, where only the red light would flash all around the building, in case of any emergency.

3) Promoting Spatial awareness

The way finding and travelling from one space to another can be confusing even for the public in any building. There is an intention to ask the main receptionist or anyone in the building, in order to find a way to get to a specific department or café. How hard would it then be for the people who are deafened.

This could be done by installing carpets or materials that don’t reflect or resonate sounds on the floors of spaces such as corridors, common areas etc. Wooden floors can be installed in classrooms, activity rooms, office cabins etc. so that one can understand that they have entered to a different zone, in which they should tap the floor to gain the attention of teacher or any other person in the same space. The common areas are not floored with wooden materials due to the influx of people and this could lead to a lot of vibrations that could distract the users, especially the hard of hearing.

Also, there could be extensions of glass walls or coloured glass walls could be places on the corners of corridors, spaces leading to classrooms etc. to avoid bumping into each other. These extensions could be other perforated screens or brick wall with jali work.

Figure3Visualscreenstoalertthedeaf(Source:DeaffirstArchitecture)

DEAFUTOPIA

Is Utopia possible? Is Deaf Utopia possible? If architects have discussed and predict that there might be an urban utopia, then why not a deaf urban utopia?

A world which would consist of hearing and deaf at equal number, in which everyone would know how to communicate in sign language. The language would be declared as the universal language for communicating among people from different countries. In such a strategy, there would not be an extra time allotted for the deaf to spend time on learning the sign language. That in fact, would be the only language that they would have to learn, whereas the hearing would have it compulsory in their education systems to learn this mode of universal language, along with other optional language choices.

From the book, ‘Martha’s Vineyard’4, it stated that in an island, the vineyard, near Massachusetts coast, contained with a high deaf populace. This occurred due to the early settlement in 1600s, who carried a deafness gene. Over the years, after generations, deaf population evolved, which eventually lead to the development of sign language, known as Martha’s Vineyard sign language. This thought, illustrated in the book, was believed to have invoked the development of American Sign Language (ASL). It was quite disappointing that the deaf utopia existed until the deaf population in the vineyard declined in 1950s. If this culture in deaf population had continued and increased to an international level, things would have been different, examples stated below.

The roads would contain electric cars, focusing as a solution to various issues such as pollution, exploiting and degrading the non-renewable resources and the problem in which the deaf cannot drive due to the loss of hearing ability. The pedestrian pathways would consist of mirrors placed at certain intervals so that the deaf can make themselves aware of anyone or anything approaching from behind; the green parks and landscaped zones could have some acoustic mirrors placed at the edges of the park; there could also be a large balloon like element placed at the centre of the town, to grab the attention of the gathering, in case of any natural emergency.

The entire town or city could have buildings and skyscrapers built entirely with endless and entangled ramps from the ground to the basement levels or the topmost floors of the towers; the structures would be constructed using translucent and transparent materials like transparent concrete, glass, perforated screens, timber, etc. It would include all the design regulations discussed in the previous section.

The main announcements could be made through a speech, simultaneously signing through it, which makes it easier for anyone, even the viewers that view internationally.

4 DeafHistoryonMartha’sVineyard

The world would realize the power of sign language! This type of life style could be an answer to most of the disabled, physical and non-physical; the blind, the deaf, deaf-blind, the mute, the physically disabled etc.

Opportunities: In today’s world, the internationalisation of sign language would break the barriers for different people or students to pursue their career in different countries across the world. It would be then easier to educate the dwellers in the village areas and the citizens who live in the outskirts. As beautiful as it sounds, there could be some drawbacks and limitations towards this idea. The first would be that, if sign language is internationalised, then there would be a tendency to not learn any language other than the language where one is born into. Each language is rich in its own way, and the way in which different people speak and interpret each language is always unique. But this could be lost, if sign language becomes universal, worldwide.

Contradicting to this notion, it also could be the choice of the hearing populace to learn any number of languages that they would be interested in. Using sign language by the hearing majority does not mean that they should stop speaking any language at all! They have the liberty to learn any of the spoken languages, but the only regulation would be to keep signing with fingers, along with any respective language they wish to speak. This perception could turn the world into a better living space, not just for the deaf, but for everyone living in it.

Figure4AninterpretednotionofDeafUtopia(Source:Pinterest)

LANGUAGE THREATS

Even though there have been significant advances in the technology and design aspects in the field of sign language community and architecture, there has been rising threats to its decline in the language, thereby making it a possibility where there could be a decline in the deaf community and hence it’s respective architecture design features. 5

The eugenic drive to become a normal part of the society has led some of the members of the community to submit themselves to the technologies, which results in the decreasing number of the community. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Another question is raised – “Why should the deaf and their language continue to exist?”. As mentioned in the Oxford handbook, how can one indeed argue to remain in preserving the community that was mostly considered as a disability by the hearing majority? This is a continuously raised by the common hearing parents, genetic counsellors in different medias and blogs. biomedical interventions in lectures, theatrical productions, community forums globally.

The use of cochlear implants could be considered as a risk according to Micheal Chorost in his autobiography. Thousands of people make irrational decisions, by plummeting themselves into this wave of computational technique to solve hear loss.

Trevor Johnston, who published an article,’ Whither the Deaf Community’, have cautioned the readers that the rate of cochlear implantations, up to 75% and the genetic implementations are to avoid any deaf at birth and bring a decline to the community within half of a lifetime! 6

Even though Johnston’s statements are true, a cochlear implant does not cure a hear loss, it triggers an audio signal towards the inner side of the ear to indicate a form of hearing.

It is a matter to debate, indeed, if the decline of deaf culture is to be looked upon as a positive or negative aspect, in the future. The extinct of sign language that was developed, in a unique manner, by the great deaf legends, would be a shame. Whereas the decrease in the number of deaf people, could be observed as an undeniably positive insight.

5 TheOxfordHandbookofDeafstudies,LanguageandEducation;p,213

6 TheOxfordHandbookofDeafstudies,LanguageandEducation;p,214

CONCLUSION

The investigation in the report was to analyse the given deaf spaces by the Gallaudet University and adding a few extra attributes, according to my opinion, which was reflected by the nature and behaviour of the Deaf Culture and its history. Redefining the deaf spaces, led to the thought of creating and establishing the ultimate unique urban architecture, which is the deaf utopia.

The Deaf Utopia is a possible but unrealistic future due to the various limitations discussed earlier. Whereas, the thought of it could bring a great impact slowly into the world and aim for what implies the best for all the populace in the entire world.

The possible threat of deaf community and their culture to become inexistent would be an intense and a debating subject which could be discussed in the future.

At present, the deaf spaces could be initiated at a lower scale such as at educational institutions, in which architecture or architects could find these spaces as a cue for their future innovations of how to redefine the space for the deaf.

Bibliography

1. Marc Marschark, Patricia Elizabeth Spencer. TheOxfordHandbookofDeafstudies, LanguageandEducation.2010.

2. HistoryofBSL.Deafness Cognition And Language Centre (DCAL). London : s.n.

3. DeafSpaceDesignGuidelines:ACommunityBasedParticipatoryResearchwiththe AlbuquerqueSignLanguageAcademy.Johnson, Charlene A. 2010.

4. Ladd, Paddy. UnderstandingDeafCulture:InSearchofDeafhood.2002,2003,2004.

5. Carol A. Padden, Tom L. Humphries. InsideDeafCulture.London : s.n., 2005.

6. Jan Branson, Don Miller. Damnedfortheirdifference:theculturalconstructionofdeaf peopleasdisabled:asociologicalhistory.Washington D.C : s.n., 2002.

7. WhatisPrivacyinDeafSpace?Sangalang, Jordan.

8. Deaf- firstArchitecture.Hauan, Travis. Washington : s.n., 2017.

9. Berke, Jamie. Deaf History in Martha's Vineyard. Verywellhealth.[Online]

10. Metro Deaf School High School Happenings. mdscheetahs.blogspot.com.[Online] 2013.