Concept

All too often garden design focuses on visual aspects and neglects the other four senses. In the garden at Educandário São José Operário, the scents, textures, sounds and tastes of both materials and plants have been carefully considered alongside visual elements to ensure there’s something for everyone regardless of ability. Raised beds eliminate the need to bend down to find plants, wide paths are accessible for wheelchair users while a handrail and "Braille Trail" highlight noteworthy features. Sculptural tactile markers add further orientation cues to the simple-to-navigate layout.

The exact dimensions of an accessible garden will depend on the purposes and people it is destined to serve. If you are designing for people with disabilities who wish to work in the garden, beds will need to be accessible from all sides so that gardeners are able to reach all the areas that may need to be weeded or planted.

If you are designing for a more passive public who simply want to sit and enjoy the garden, it may not be so important to access all areas, however, it is important to ensure that many plants can be accessed so that they may be enjoyed. While a sighted person can enjoy the look of a plant from some distance, a blind person may need to touch the plant to experience it, and if it is out of reach, it might as well not be there.

Likewise, plants that are within reach of a walking visitor may be off limits for wheelchair users, and therefore the design needs to consider what is accessible from a seated position.