This paper seeks to identify how users and architects through collaborations are generating knowledge on Universal Design (UD). Besides the need for architects to build a solid foundation of architectural knowledge, insight in users’ life practices is essential in UD knowledge creation. Users’ experience and perception of space offers a qualitative alternative to quantitative notions of space. Through thirty-two interviews, the paper contributes with a qualitative perspective on collaborative practice between users and architects. An unfolding of knowledge creation shows that accessibility as quantifiable measurements, seems to have taken root in collaborative prac-tice, while knowledge on UD is still sprouting. The research also shows that interpretations of ac-cessibility, as compensating solutions for a few, has an impact on both collaborations, knowledge creation, and architecture. Hence, increasing awareness of greater collective responsibility of in-clusion and movement towards concepts such as UD and Inclusive Architecture, challenges ar-chitectural practices when expected to align with societal movements. If human diversity and architectural practice are to meet in UD ideals, advanced user-based knowledge, and awareness of social aspects of architecture, in line with legislation and technical insight, is suggested. In creation of space that are inclusive, and which increase possibilities for more, architects must seek nuanced knowledge of users and insight associated with their daily practice. The research point to, how UD knowledge, is created and put into action is crucial, to whether architectural design processes can respond to societal ambitions and international conventions.

The interdisciplinary evidence to support healthcare building is insufficient. New innovation processes are needed that enable clinical, research evidence and practice-based design teams to apply research-informed and evidence based design. This article aims to challenge the basis for prioritizing the reconfiguration of eyecare to respond to patient backlog and develop an innovative di-agnostics hub. Ophthalmology, the busiest NHS outpatient specialty (7.9 million episodes; 2018-19), is perfectly suited to providing a testbed for rapid, research-driven innovation and to show how research in the built environment can better inform clinical and technological advancement. A clinically-led case study is described which reports the approach taken to bring together the de-sign, engineering and modelling expertise of multiple experts in the built environment. Various disciplines contributed to three clinical trials which saw three unique building configurations, which involved 3,000 patients across three iterations of the building layout design. Circa ~ 30 staff were involved in the interdisciplinary co-design process to encourage an innovative approach to equipment configuration, layout design and an emerging scientific evidence-base. There is a significant need to address the methodological, interdisciplinary and theoretical implications of evidence-informed healthcare building. We offer up a conceptualization of an evidence-based co-production process that optimized safety, efficiency of patient movement and staff satisfaction through iterative dialogues.

The physical character of a palliative environment can (when well-designed) positively impact the wellbeing and experiences of its various users (residents, family, caregivers, and volunteers). However, it seems difficult for architects to translate quite abstract and subjective multi-user perspectives into more specific applicable design solutions, which is why the impact of palliative research in architectural practice seems little so far. To contribute to closing the loop between architects' design intent and actual users' experiences, conducting qualitative interviews with users of palliative environments seems a plausible approach to understand how they experience these environments. However, this concerns several ethical and practical challenges regarding the participants, the context, and the topic of this research. Hence, tension seems present between collecting more applicable architectural richer experiences and ensuring that this research does not unnecessarily burden participants. Therefore, this paper will focus on (1) how we can con-tribute to the participant-researcher dialogue in order to elicit more architecturally rich (subjec-tive) experiences from various users of palliative environments, and (2) how we can adopt a human-centred approach when designing and conducting interviews of varioususers with(in) a palliative environment. For this purpose, a pilot study with three participants of a small-scaled palliative environment in Belgium was carried out to explore the potential and approach of pho-to-elicitation interviews. This paper reports on the pilot study and highlights methodological strengths and challenges from the lens of an architect-researcher with a strong focus on human-centredness. In this way, we hope to contribute to (re)designing more human-centred pal-liative environments.