What is the goal of barrier-free design?

The goal of barrier-free design is to create environments accessible to all. This approach focuses on removing physical and sensory barriers that may inhibit people, particularly those with disabilities, from fully utilizing spaces. By prioritizing accessibility, barrier-free design fosters inclusivity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can navigate, use, and enjoy a space safely and effectively. This concept is essential in public and private buildings to comply with regulations such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in Canada, which aims to remove barriers for individuals with disabilities.

Though reducing construction costs, enhancing aesthetic elements, and adhering to traditional designs can be important factors in architectural practice, they do not align with the fundamental purpose of barrier-free design, which is inclusivity and accessibility. Prioritizing accessibility sometimes may lead to increased costs or require deviations from traditional aesthetic values, but the core intention is to ensure that all individuals can access and benefit from the built environment without obstacles.