Improving Accessibility in Historic Buildings: Comparative Spatial Observations and Design Proposals

This study aims to address the fundamental challenges encountered in ensuring accessibility in historical buildings within the framework of universal design principles. Historical buildings, due to the lack of accessibility standards in place at the time of their construction, currently present various physical and spatial barriers. This situation significantly restricts disabled individuals' access to cultural heritage sites. The study is based on a literature review, along with spatial observations and photo-based analyses conducted in selected historical buildings and their surroundings in Edirne (Turkey), Xanthi (Greece), and Kosovo. Instead of examining a single case study, this approach identifies recurring accessibility problems across different contexts and develops feasible, adaptable design proposals to address them. The findings show that accessibility problems in historical buildings have not only a physical dimension but also a conceptual dimension stemming from the tension between preservation and use. The study reveals that small-scale, reversible, and low-cost interventions, such as ramp systems, threshold solutions, and interior design arrangements, can significantly improve accessibility without compromising the historical building's original value.