Disabled Access

"The Durban 2014 Organisation Committee welcomes the involvement of the public in expressing their views on issues that are pertinent and affects us all. Architects are central to issues relating to accessibility, as the spaces and buildings that they design need to be usable by all. The Committee is taking the necessary steps to ensure that all the venues being used for the Durban 2014 Conference are accessible to and user friendly to users with special needs.

Issues of this nature are in keeping with the theme of ‘Otherwhere’ in that participants are being encouraged to look at creative ways to address the needs of all our citizens. While this is not a new issue, it is an issue that needs not just the attention of Architects, but all our citizens in that we need to ensure that all our buildings and public spaces are user friendly to persons with special needs. This needs to become the norm and not the exception.”

HASSAN ASMAL – President: Organisation Committee UIA2014 Durban

Architecture for All

UIA2014 is committed to ensuring universal accessibility in all venues selected for the upcoming event. To that end our Professional Conference Organisers have engaged all key hoteliers to provide universal access to their accommodation facilities. To date we have established that 42 of the official Congress hotels are accessible and have wheelchair friendly bedrooms. In addition, all official hotels have completed a hotel accessibility questionnaire. The questionnaires have been uploaded to the congress website attached to the hotel fact sheets.

With regards to the Congress venue, all Halls at the International Convention Centre Durban (ICC) will have ramps onto the stages for wheelchair use.

The UIA2014 Durban organising team offices – the city-owned Pump House building on the beachfront promenade – currently has wheelchair access. The building is being renovated by the City Maintenance Department to upgrade accessibility with the design and construction of a ramp on the entrance level to provide access to all. The ramp will be in place in time for the Congress in August.