Computational design and digital fabrication can improve accessibility in architecture in several ways:
1. Customization: Computational design allows architects to customize designs for people with disabilities. Using software, architects can make 3D models that can be manipulated to fit the specific needs of people with disabilities. Digital fabrication techniques such as 3D printing can be used to create custom parts that are needed for accessibility.
2. Testing: Computational design allows architects to conduct virtual testing of different designs to check for accessibility. Virtual testing can be used to see how designs will work for people with different abilities. This testing can save time and resources by identifying accessibility problems in the design phase before construction begins.
3. Improved Material Selection: Computational design tools can simulate how different materials will look and work in a building. This information can help architects choose materials that are more accessible, such as tactile surfaces or those that reduce glare and reflection for people with visual impairments.
4. Improved Fabrication Techniques: Digital fabrication techniques can produce complex and intricate designs that are not possible through traditional methods. For example, 3D printing can create handrails and grab bars with custom shapes and sizes that are more comfortable and easier to grip for people with disabilities.
Overall, computational design and digital fabrication can help architects design buildings that are more accessible, practical and functional for people with disabilities.
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