This paper will present the idea that adultism, the discrimination against children in society, can be exhibited in a physical nature as well as a mental nature. When we look closely at our buildings and our urban surroundings, we discover for whom they were designed, and more importantly, for whom they were not designed.
Not only does this tell us a lot about the distribution of power in society but also how we have accepted this order of things. The standard against which we have historically measured all things, has been healthy, male adults. The result of this order is not only that its makes the lives of the affected individuals, in this case the children, less convenient and comfortable, but it also can lead to very dramatic outcomes, when for example the emergency planning of buildings only takes adults into consideration.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Can Architecture Discriminate?
Man Is The Measure Of All Things
Outside
Inside Private Homes And Public Buildings
Berlin Building Code
“Barrierefreies Bauen“
Emergency Planing
Conclusion
Objectives & Core Themes
This paper explores the concept of "adultism" as a form of physical discrimination within urban architecture and building design, questioning how societal power structures are manifested in the built environment. It investigates whether modern infrastructure inherently neglects the needs of children, thereby reinforcing their marginalization and vulnerability.
- Analysis of architectural environments and their implicit prioritization of the adult, male body.
- Examination of the institutionalization and spatial separation of childhood in modern cities.
- Critique of legal frameworks and building codes regarding child-inclusive accessibility and safety.
- Discussion of the life-threatening consequences of failing to incorporate children into emergency planning.
Excerpt from the Book
Can Architecture Discriminate?
Architecture is probably the art form which influences our lives the most; it surrounds us day and night. In contemporary society, one must go a long way to ”escape” its impact. Most people do not even realize how architecture manipulates our feelings and thoughts. A good example of this is gothic cathedrals, which were built with the intention of humans feeling small and insignificant in the house of God, since it was designed for the Lord himself. This can be found in many cultures all over the world, not just for religious purposes, but mainly to demonstrate one thing: power.
Even though times have changed and with them, symbols of power, architecturally, these symbols still exist and can show us who is in control and therefore who sets the rules. As the German architecture critic Alexander Mitscherlich puts it in his book: Die Unwirtlichkeit unserer Städte- Anstiftung zum Unfrieden: ”Der Anthropologe kommt aus der Verwunderung darüber nicht heraus, daß die merkantile Planung unserer Städte offenbar nur für einen Alterstypus […] geschieht, und zwar für den erwerbsfähigen [autofahrenden, Barz] Erwachsenen. Wie das Kind zu einem solchem wird, scheint ein zu vernachlässigender Faktor.“ (Mitscherlich 1972:91-92)
Even though more than forty years have passed since this text was published, if anything its relevance in contemporary society has only increased. Space is the ultimate sign of power. In other words, power can be measured by the amount of space a person occupies, or controls. When we look at our environment closely we can see who has power and who does not. The outside world belongs to adult, male, healthy car drivers because they are the individuals with the most power in our society. Most other members of society have fought battles to gain access this power, but since children are arguably the least powerful group in society, they occupy and have influence on the smallest portion of the outside world.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Defines adultism as a systemic form of discrimination based on age and maturity, setting the stage for an architectural critique of urban environments.
Can Architecture Discriminate?: Argues that built spaces inherently reflect the power dynamics of society, prioritizing the needs of healthy, male adults while marginalizing children.
Man Is The Measure Of All Things: Examines historical design standards, specifically the focus on the adult body as the universal measurement for architectural planning.
Outside: Describes the hostile urban environment for children, characterized by limited mobility and dependence on adults to move between "islands" of safety.
Inside Private Homes And Public Buildings: Analyzes the shift of childhood into private, institutionalized spaces and the emergence of the "child-centered" home as a response to perceived outside dangers.
Berlin Building Code: Investigates German building laws, revealing that while regulations exist for playground safety, general public buildings often ignore the specific requirements of children.
“Barrierefreies Bauen“: Reviews accessibility standards like DIN 18040-1, noting that children are rarely explicitly prioritized in legal architectural requirements.
Emergency Planing: Discusses the tragic implications of excluding children from safety protocols and fire protection measures in public and residential buildings.
Conclusion: Summarizes the need for a more inclusive approach to urban planning that recognizes the rights and needs of children to ensure their safety and independence.
Keywords
Adultism, Architectural Discrimination, Urban Planning, Children's Rights, Universal Design, Child-centered Architecture, Berlin Building Code, Emergency Planning, Spatial Power, Social Inclusion, Childhood Studies, Environmental Design, DIN 18040-1, Urban Environment, Safety Protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core argument of this work?
The work argues that architecture acts as a physical manifestation of adultism, where environments are designed to serve the needs of adults while simultaneously excluding or marginalizing children.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The paper covers urban planning, children's rights in architecture, legal building regulations, the history of human-scale design, and emergency evacuation safety.
What is the central research question?
The paper investigates whether our urban surroundings discriminate against children and asks whose needs are prioritized when building and planning our cities.
Which scientific methods were used in this study?
The author employs a qualitative approach, combining literature review, critical analysis of historical design texts, and a legal assessment of specific German building codes.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body focuses on the physical barriers in urban spaces, the concept of the "child-centered family," the shortcomings of existing disability-focused accessibility laws for children, and the critical lack of child-inclusive safety planning.
How can the work be categorized by its keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as Adultism, Urban Planning, Architectural Discrimination, Children's Rights, and Spatial Power Dynamics.
How does the author characterize the "battlefield" between children and adults?
Referencing Paul Thompson, the author describes the relationship as a long-standing war of social groups where, despite many battles, children have lost the larger war for control over their own spaces.
What specific problem does the author highlight regarding emergency planning?
The author points out that standard emergency planning often ignores the specific physical capabilities and behaviors of children, such as their tendency to hide during fires rather than flee, leading to disproportionately high casualty rates.
Why are fire doors described as "deathly traps" for children?
Modern automatic fire doors are often too heavy for young children to open, physically preventing them from escaping dangerous situations independently.
What is the significance of the "Vitruvian Man" in the context of this paper?
The Vitruvian Man represents the historical and enduring tendency to view the adult male body as the standard measure for all design, reinforcing the exclusion of children from architectural consideration.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anna Jens (Autor:in), 2014, Adultism in Architecture. Are Children Being Discriminated Against by our Urban Surroundings?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/286965
