Architectural barriers have a universally exclusionary impact that, under certain circumstances, cause a work of architecture to function as an agent of discrimination irrespective of the designer's intent.

1. Architectural Works as Agents of
Discrimination
Rick Fox, Architect ISPA 2014 TU Delft, NL

2. An argument against things as
moral agents

3. An argument against
 P1. Moral agents have the following characteristics…{F1, F2, F3, Fn}
 P2. Inanimate objects [lacking a mental repertoire] lack all these
characteristics.
 C1. Inanimate objects cannot be moral agents.
 P3. A work of architecture is an object lacking a mental repertoire.
 C2. Works of architecture cannot be moral agents.
QED

4. Architecture as a “proxy”
moral agent

5. An argument in favor
 1. Architectural barriers have a universally exclusionary impact, made clear
by an emphasis on human variation.
 2. The built environment plays a substantial role in the creation of disability,
no less that social and cultural attitudes.
 3. With regards to social justice…impairment & disability would be under the
‘veil of ignorance.’
 4. Exclusionary impacts that single out a specific sub-set of people (the
“disabled”) without accruing to the benefit of all are unjust.
 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages, including
those with a moral theme.
 6. Exclusion is unjust; a message of exclusion is a message of injustice.
 7. A work that conveys messages of its own injustice, is itself unjust.
 8. Thus, a work of architecture can be construed as an autonomous moral
agent.
QED

6. A few thoughts on disability & justice
Terms
Impairment
Disability

7. A few thoughts on disability & justice
The Medical Model

8. A few thoughts on disability & justice
The Social Model

9. A few thoughts on disability & justice
The ICF bio-psycho-social Model

10. 1. Architectural barriers have a universal exclusionary impact,
made clear by an emphasis on human variation.

11. 1. Architectural barriers have a universally exclusionary impact,
made clear by an emphasis on human variation.
 Impairment is a
universal human
experience

12. 1. Architectural barriers have a universally exclusionary impact,
made clear by an emphasis on human variation.
 All humans experience
change in:
 bodily function & structure
 levels of personal capacity
 levels of personal performance

13. 1. Architectural barriers have a universally exclusionary impact,
made clear by an emphasis on human variation.
 Architectural barriers

14. 2. The built environment plays a substantial role in the
creation of disability, no less than social and cultural attitudes.

15. 2. The built environment plays a substantial role in the creation
of disability, no less than social and cultural attitudes.
 The disablement
process

16. 2. The built environment plays a substantial role in the creation
of disability, no less than social and cultural attitudes.
 Participation in life-
situations
ICF Awareness

17. 3. With regards to social justice…impairment & disability
would be under the ‘veil of ignorance.’

18. 3. With regards to social justice…impairment & disability would
be under the ‘veil of ignorance.’
 Justice as fairness
Contemplation of Justice, 1935
James Earle Fraser
Washington, DC

19. 3. With regards to social justice…impairment & disability would
be under the ‘veil of ignorance.’
 A ‘veil of ignorance’

20. 4. Exclusionary impacts that single out a specific sub-set of
people without accruing to the benefit of all are unjust.

21. 4. Exclusionary impacts that single out a specific sub-set of
people without accruing to the benefit of all are unjust.
 Principle of Difference
Social and economic inequalities
are justified only if they benefit
the least advantaged members.

22. 4. Exclusionary impacts that single out a specific sub-set of
people without accruing to the benefit of all are unjust.
 A virtuous “rising tide…”
“Stramp”
The Law Courts, 1973
Arthur Erickson
Vancouver, BC, Canada

23. 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages,
including those with a moral theme.

24. 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages,
including those with a moral theme.
 Denotation
word→world directed
US Supreme Court, 1935
Cass Gilbert
Washington, DC

25. 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages,
including those with a moral theme.
 Denotation
word→world directed
Sydney Opera House, 1957-1973
Jorn Utzon
Sydney, NSW, Australia
UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2007

26. 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages,
including those with a moral theme.
 Exemplification
world→word directed

27. 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages,
including those with a moral theme.
 Exemplification
world→word directed
Schroeder House, 1924
Gerrit Rietveld
Utrecht, Netherlands
UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2000

28. 5. A work of architecture has the capacity to convey messages,
including those with a moral theme.
 Exemplification
world→word directed
Frank Residence ( House VI), 1975
Peter Eisenman
Cornwall, CT
Interior view

29. 6. Exclusion is unjust; a message of exclusion is a message of
injustice.

30. 6. Exclusion is unjust; a message of exclusion is a message of
injustice.
 Signs etched in stone
US Supreme Court, 1935
Cass Gilbert
Washington, DC

31. 7. A work that conveys messages of its own injustice, is itself
unjust.

32. 7. A work that conveys messages of it own injustice, is itself
unjust.
 Another short argument
 P1. A work that conveys
messages about itself, is the
architectural equivalent of moral
advocacy.
 P2. Architecture that
“advocates” exclusion is morally
flawed & unjust.
 C. A work that conveys
messages of its own injustice, is
itself unjust.

33. 8. Conclusion

34. 8. Conclusion
 Thus, a work of architecture can be construed as an
autonomous moral agent.
QED

35. Thank You.