Do You Know What's Friendly : Universal Design Awards

Key Features

• This 16 storey office development sits on a tight site area of 670m². Despite space constraints, the premises are fully accessible and friendly to people with disabilities.
• From the street level, a segmented ramp allows accessibility into the building. The ramp is adjacent to the entrance steps, thereby providing a direct approach for wheelchair users.
• On the street level, the granite flooring is textured to prevent slip and fall incidents and indicator floor lights at the entrance steps are designed to provide safe access.
• Toilets for the physically impaired are provided on every floor including the car parking floors. For vehicles driven by persons with disability, an accessible car parking lot is available.
• Lift control buttons are equipped with Braille and tactile markings to enable people with disabilities to use the lift.

Key Features

• Home @ Hong San is a development, providing shelters to young children and the elderly, that is easily accessible from the road.
• In addition to being barrier-free, the built environment for children is designed to resemble a typical residential unit that is familiar to heartlanders. As for the sheltered home for the aged, the built environment is bright, cheerful and well ventilated naturally.
• Accessibility within the compound is well taken care of with ramps distributed throughout the compound. Non-slip floor tiles are used to prevent slip and fall.
• Warning tactile indicators are provided at the top and bottom of stairs and the nosing is colour contrasted with the tread.
• The lifts are spacious with control buttons equipped with Braille and tactile markings.
• Toilets for the physically-impaired are large with oversized flush valve buttons for ease of use.
• Child-friendly fixtures and fittings, including safety features such as raised railings and anti-climb features, are provided.
• The basement carpark is well lit with a car parking lot for vehicles driven by persons with disabilities.

Key Features

• In refurbishing the building, special efforts were taken by the mall management to make the place friendly to people of different needs and physical abilities.
• Accessibility into and within the Mall is provided for in the design. Non-slip floor tiles are used in the corridors.
• Lifts and toilets are provided for the physically impaired.
• Entrance to toilet cluster is cleverly designed with no door and without compromising privacy. This helps to prevent accidents such as being hit by the door.
• Other friendly facilities include diaper changing stations, nursing rooms, child sanitary fittings and seats at several locations to allow tired shoppers to rest.
• The carpark is well lit and equipped with parking guidance system to direct users to available lots. The car parking lots for vehicles driven by the handicaps are well designed to provide ease of parking. Access from these lots to the building entrance lobby is direct, short and smooth.

Key Features

• Accessibility within the Pier has been taken into consideration in the design, with changes in level at the ground floor mall and environmental deck kept to a minimum and ramps provided where necessary.
• There is seamless movement from the building to adjacent developments.
• Various recreational facilities such as the pool, gym, BBQ area and tennis courts are accessible to people with disabilities.
• Unlike most full height glass doors which are heavy to operate, those at the function room are designed to be light and easy to open.
• Non-slip floor finishings are provided to prevent slip and fall.
• There is no open drain that passes through the walkway. The drain is either concealed or provided with solid cover.
• All the lifts are designed for persons on wheelchairs and car parking lots for vehicles driven by persons with disabilities are located near the lift lobbies.

Key Features

• HarbourFront MRT station is an underground station with 2 levels that is fully barrier-free compliant.
• The station is well connected to other transport facilities such as the bus interchange located on the opposite side of Telok Blangah Road and the monorail station (to Sentosa) above it.
• Commuters can also connect directly to commercial developments like the VivoCity and HarbourFront Centre.
• Tactile indicators are provided to help persons with visual impairment.
• The lift control buttons are also provided with Braille and tactile markings.
• For commuters with infants, there is a diaper changing station.
• For wheelchair users, the payphone is placed at a height suitable for use.