The European Concept For Accessibility 2003

1.5 Why A Built Environment?

Two types of environment can be distinguished: natural and built.

1. Natural environments: their development depends solely on the action of natural elements (rain, wind). These spaces are either inaccessible or only accessible to people with specific abilities (climbers, swimmers, etc.).

2. Built environments: these are environments created or modified by people so that people may live in them. Here, any individual, regardless of his/ her abilities or cultural background, should be able to develop as a person and carry out the activities necessary for such development.

Built environments may be artificial or modified natural environments:
a) Built environments: these are environments created by people: buildings, squares, vehicles (transport), parking spaces, streets, children's play areas, monuments, water/ gas installations, etc.

B) Modified natural environments: these are normally situated within an artificial, built space or near to a populated area. They are mainly designed for leisure activities.

Examples are:

• Natural parks – in which plant life is protected, and designated paths and a variety of services are provided;
• Beaches – equipped with ramps, walkways on the sand, etc., that facilitate access to them and the various services they offer, and which provides specific assistance in terms of bathing (floats for children, floating chairs for people with mobility problems, or buoys to indicate safe areas).

Thus, the built environment refers to any space or facility designed by people for people, whether public or private, and its accessibility therefore depends on us. However, this publication refers especially to architecture and town planning, as it takes longer to bring about change once a building project is completed. If designs are made without taking into account the European Concept for Accessibility then buildings and spaces may remain inaccessible for a long period of time and correcting them at a later date may be costly.