~~META: creator = Stichting Zet, Jan Geurts &description abstract = (ID:180) social sustainability…public accessibility...Sustainable buildings ~~ ====== (ID:180) social sustainability…public accessibility...Sustainable buildings====== ** Stichting Zet ** \\ // Centre for social development // ^ Address|Statenlaan 4, 5042 RX, Tilburg, The Netherlands | ^ URL|www.wijzijnzet.nl | ^ Contact|Jan Geurts, Consultant, <[email protected]> | ^ Line of industry|Consulting and Design services; Research; Welfare | ^ Area of expertise|Design, Social | ^ Size|11-50 employees | ===== Role of company/organisation===== Zet creates the right connections between ‘social and stones’. Our consultants are experts in social and welfare developments and know the needs on both local and national scale. We implement this into public real estate and infrastructural projects. We create a healthy and livable environment for every citizen of Eindhoven by consulting other parties in the project approach and advise on two major fields: Accessibility and livability This proposal contains our ideas on public accessibility, which is the boundary condition on livability. See our other proposal for our vision on social sustainability. ===== Opportunities for collaboration===== By working on this project we hope we can make all partners aware of all necessary aspects (social, functional and economical). By adding social sustainability into project approaches, the result will be that it fits the long term needs of the community and therefore gets its durable support. We show that even social aspects can gain return on investment ===== Description of idea===== <WRAP box right minwidth:33%> <userpoll Rating> + ****** + **** + ** </userpoll> <WRAP centeralign> Please rate this idea! \\ Click on **Vote and view** to see the results. </WRAP> </WRAP> Zet improves the quality of real estate by adding social sustainability. This means the final result is not only sustainable in the common sense (green, durable), but also sustainable in the meaning of: suitable for all citizens, now and in the future. This proposal contains our ideas on public accessibility, which is the boundary condition on livability. Many buildings of the preliminary scope have a public function. All buildings are owned by the local government of the city of Eindhoven. This means the buildings are part of the community and have a social function or even fulfill public services. When updating buildings it is necessary to not only look at the technical state, but also to look at or reconsider the functionality of the building. Sustainable buildings are about to last for a long time. This means that they have to fit in todays society as well as tomorrows. One of the most important issues is accessibility or Design for All. This is not only a social responsibility, but also a legal obligation: The Netherlands are about to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (planned 2014-2015). This means more obligations on equal rights (such as accessibility) for authorities, entrepreneurs and so on. Zet advises to create an environment that is suitable for all inhabitants of Eindhoven, with or without disabilities. Within this process our experienced professionals always take technical and financial aspects into account. Our challenge is to make accessibility easy to implement, suitable for everybody (no special facilities for disabled people) and therefore maybe even profitable (see also question 14). Zet checks and advises on the broad field of accessibility. We mark three major themes: -Physical accessibility (to reach and enter a building and use all services) -Social accessibility (how to treat and serve people with disabilities in an appropriate way) -Accessible communication (let people understand their environment, find their way and understand all necessary information) In this stage the physical accessibility is the most important part. This means designing an environment where everybody can reach the destination, enter the building and even utilize all services offered. Just like anybody else. Although there are several guidelines on this field, problems or mistakes often occur within both the designing process and the building process. Especially when adapting existing buildings, the applicable guidelines are not enough, or even look impossible to implement. Zet has great experience with these situations. In close cooperation with designing parties like architects Zet advises and supervises the social sustainability of all developments. Many plans are limited to ‘project boundaries’ such as ‘building A’ or ‘square B’. People do not experience the public environment as blocks. Therefore it is important that also the public space (outdoor) like Stadhuisplein and its surroundings is suitable for Eindhoven and its citizens. Together with urban architects and contractors Zet looks after an accessible public space. ^ Illustrating file|{{public:outline_proposals:subdata:proposals:illustrations:180-q24-portfolio_zet.pdf?400&direct|Portfolio Zet.pdf}}| ^ Type of idea|service| ^ Category of idea|design; work flow| ^ Enabling conditions|To get the best results it is needed to be an equal partner in the design process from start on. Implementation of accessibility afterwards or in a later phase always results in unnecessary expenses.| ===== Stage of development===== Proven innovation: it has been used in practice on a small scale. ===== Substantiation stage of development===== Although the service is not common, it is proven to be effective. Zet consultants advised numerous projects on the field of accessibility. A few (local) examples are: -Nationaal Zwemcentrum De Tongelreep (National Swimming Stadion, ‘Pieter van den Hoogenband’) Eindhoven -Ireen Wüst IJsbaan (Skating hall) Tilburg -Stadsschouwburg Parktheater (City Theatre) Eindhoven -Gemeentehuis/stadskantoor (City hall) Vught, Oss, Den Bosch, Eindhoven -Bosrijk Efteling (bungalows and hotel) -Infrastructuur (public space) Valkenswaard First of all, our advise has resulted in satisfied users and visitors, in particular those who have disabilities. Second, many times the building receives the Dutch Accessibility Certificate (called ITS). Third, Zet can prove the economical profit of accessibility (See question 16). ===== Provability contribution to sustainability===== Proven contribution to sustainability; this has been shown in practice. ===== Step in the right direction===== First of all, an accessible environment is the boundary condition for equal chances. It gives people the possibilities and freedom to be who they are and act like anybody else. Second, a well chosen accessible solution doesn’t cost extra money or material. Many times, accessibility can even gain money. Therefore Zet uses it’s program called OmZetXL to calculate the benefits of investments on accessibility. This calculation program was developed in collaboration with the University of Tilburg. Their research confirms that there is proven connection between accessibility improvements and numbers of visitors and its revenues. ===== Flexible idea===== Accessibility is much more than only following guidelines. It is necessary to zoom in on local conditions, functions, visitors, daily use and so on. Therefore it is applicable in all situations. There is no environmental effect. ===== Good investment===== When accessibility is a boundary condition in the design and build process, it prevents needless adaptations and expenses in the finishing stage or even during the operational phase. Numerous examples are available. Thereby, demographic and legal developments show that the nearby future will demand an even more accessible environment. With OmZetXL (Question 16) shows the economical benefits. Finally, in the future there will be legal obligations on this theme, when the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is ratified. ===== Comments===== This proposal contains our ideas on public accessibility, which is the boundary condition on livability. Our other proposal contains our view on how our involvement on livability adds value to real estate developments. Both proposals can be combined and integrated to make a concept with a durable connection with Eindhoven and its citizens. {{tag>public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:all "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:contributions sustainable Eindhoven":"sustainable city" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:contributions sustainable Eindhoven":"flexibility for government" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:contributions sustainable Eindhoven":"attractive surroundings" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:contributions sustainable Eindhoven":"visible innovation" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:three principles":"quality in the long term" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:three principles":"system approach" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:three principles":"cooperation" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:scope":"services" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:stage of development":"proven innovation" "public:outline_proposals:subdata:tags:contribution to sustainability":"proven contribution"}}

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