The health, environmental, and social benefits of Biophilic design
Biophilic design (from the Greek, ‘philia’ meaning ‘love of life’) is an environmental design choice which is being adopted by architects and decorators around the world for modern office spaces and desk-based work environments. Office spaces, though largely safe and unassuming compared to workplaces of past centuries still provide potential health hazards – the most […]
Direct Access appoints new Managing Director and bid team for UK as international growth accelerates
Direct Access is excited to announce the appointment of Peter Brassington to the new role of Managing Director for Direct Access Consultancy in the UK. With full responsibility for the leadership and development of Direct Access’ UK business, Peter will take Direct Access to the next stage of success. Established in 2004 as an accessibility […]
HS2 quiet spaces: a new accessibility standard and technical specification designed to protect mental health
HS2 Ltd has proposed an innovative and exciting new standard which it intends to implement across its upcoming railway systems called the “HS2 quiet spaces specification”. The specification, a health and safety design standard, sets out rules by which designers constructing railway stations must abide to fulfill HS2’s inclusive design approach – and details requirements […]
Why the Models of Disability matter when creating inclusive environments
As access consultants at Direct Access, we often get asked this question and when we do, we tend to give a rather dry and professional answer explaining legal requirements and building regulations. Whilst it is true that these legal boxes need to be ticked, it is hardly an inspirational, encouraging, or motivating answer. The answer […]
Direct Access in 2023 – A Year in Review
First, the challenges. Life working at a small business always presents its challenges. In 2023, Direct Access experienced more of these challenges than we possibly have ever felt in our nineteen-year existence. Even as we anticipate celebrating twenty years of Direct Access in 2024, our well-oiled machine providing accessibility expertise – based on our lived […]
How business owners stand to benefit from accessibility and inclusion
When we think of the built environments that make up our society, whether that’s bus stations, libraries, hospitals, supermarkets, or hotels, thought is rarely ever given to the potential of these spaces were they to be rebuilt, readjusted, and made inclusive. Indeed, when we think of accessibility and inclusion in relation to these environments, the […]