DESIGNING INCLUSIVE PUBLIC SPACES IN HISTORIC URBAN CONTEXTS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The article is dedicated to the study of modern approaches to the formation of a barrier-free environment within the historical public spaces of Ukrainian cities. The authors address the issue of ensuring accessibility of public spaces for all population groups, particularly persons with disabilities, the elderly, parents with children, and other groups with limited mobility. The paper emphasizes the importance of implementing the principles of universal design, which ensure equal access to the urban environment regardless of users’ physical capabilities. Particular attention is paid to the challenges that arise during the transformation of historical environments, especially restrictions related to cultural heritage preservation, regulatory barriers, and persistent stereotypes about accessibility in historic cities. The article explores examples of international practice that demonstrate the possibility of integrating barrier-free solutions into environments with high historical and cultural value. The article also highlights the impact of the war in Ukraine as a factor influencing changes in the demographic structure of cities, including an increase in the number of people with temporary or permanent disabilities, internally displaced persons, and veterans who require a comfortable and accessible environment. This context reinforces the urgent need to revise existing standards and to develop new strategies for inclusive spatial development. The research results include an analysis of Ukrainian legal and regulatory frameworks concerning accessibility, a critical evaluation of existing architectural solutions, and recommendations for integrating barrier-free principles into the design of public spaces in historical settings. The authors underscore the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and the need for collaboration among architects, urban planners, local authorities, and civil society organizations to achieve real inclusion. Thus, the article makes a significant contribution to the academic discourse on social inclusion, universal design, and sustainable urban development and may serve as both a theoretical and practical foundation for further research and project implementation in the fields of architecture and urban studies.