Discover the partnership websiteLiving Atlas of Quality
Publication:11 August 2026
| Location | Canada|British Columbia|Vancouver |
| Typologies | Architecture of sports and leisure|Nautical facilities and swimming pools |
Any Body = Anybody, Rapport sur l'accessibilité à Vancouver_LU_#23This research document builds on these realizations by examining two RHF Accessibility Certified Gold case studies, the təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre by hcma architecture + design, and the UBC Aquatic Centre by MJMA and Acton Ostry Architects. Additionally, my reflections from our Vancouver field trip offered valuable insight into how accessibility extends beyond individual buildings into the larger urban fabric. These observations have helped me understand that accessible design is not a specialized branch of architecture, but a mindset that influences every design decision and not an after thought. As a developing designer, I see accessible design as a creative opportunity and a chance to design with empathy, and foresight. So far through this research, I hope to better understand how accessibility can inform my own design process, ensuring that architecture serves not just form and function, but also human dignity.
Centre aquatique de UBC_LU_#19By MJMA and Acton Ostry Architects, the UBC Aquatics Centre redefines accessibility as a core architectural value. From its inception, the building was designed not only to accommodate diverse users, but to celebrate their presence within a shared space. Universal design principles shape every aspect of the facility: the central spine connects competition and community pools with clear, intuitive circulation; change rooms are inclusive and barrier-free; and level thresholds ensure seamless movement throughout. The architecture uses openness, light, and transparency to dissolve hierarchies, making athletes, students, families, and individuals of all abilities equal participants in the experience of the building. Accessibility here becomes more than compliance, it is an architectural language of welcome, belonging, and civic identity.
