Modern Construction Does (Not) Consider People with Disabilities

Accessibility for people with disabilities is now a legal requirement, but high-quality architecture does not end with meeting minimum regulations. The needs of people with disabilities should be considered from the very beginning of the design process, not only once a project has been completed

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The contemporary appearance of Croatian cities is increasingly characterised by simple, almost identical residential buildings that many people refer to as ‘matchboxes’. This trend raises the question of whether modern architecture has lost its creativity under economic pressure, and to what extent the quality of life and accessibility for people with disabilities are taken into account.

We discussed these issues with Danijela Koren, Managing Director of DI plan, who points out that architects today must simultaneously satisfy planning requirements, energy efficiency standards, fire safety regulations and investors’ financial expectations, leaving significantly less room for creativity.

According to Koren, creativity has not disappeared, but it is increasingly constrained by economic considerations. Every additional façade detail or higher-quality material increases construction costs, meaning that investors usually opt for simpler and more affordable solutions. However, the problem does not lie solely with architects. For years, the market has prioritised maximising plot utilisation and profitability, while the quality of the built environment has taken a back seat. Simplicity in architecture is not inherently a problem, but the difference between a well-designed building and a characterless structure lies in its proportions, materials, detailing and relationship with its surroundings.

The intense pressure to reduce construction costs has resulted in savings being made precisely on those elements that determine long-term quality of life: communal spaces, green areas, façade detailing, acoustics and the durability of the building itself. Good architecture is not simply architecture that looks attractive in photographs, but architecture in which people will feel just as comfortable decades after moving in.

Accessibility for people with disabilities is now a legal obligation, but Koren stresses that quality architecture goes beyond complying with minimum legal standards. The needs of people with disabilities should be integrated into the design process from the outset, rather than addressed only after a project has been completed. When a space is accessible to people with disabilities, it also becomes more functional for parents with pushchairs, older people and anyone with reduced mobility.

Asked why so many new buildings appear to spring up without any apparent order, often too close to roads or neighbouring properties, Koren explains that planning frameworks do exist, but cities are increasingly developing through individual investments rather than according to a long-term vision. In the past, greater attention was paid to the relationship between buildings, green spaces, transport infrastructure and public areas. Today, however, the pace of development is largely dictated by market forces. When planning policies allow excessive development and infrastructure fails to keep pace with the intensity of construction, residents inevitably gain the impression of urban chaos.

There is also a risk that accessibility becomes little more than a box-ticking exercise. It should never be treated merely as another legal requirement, but as an integral part of designing the built environment. The same applies to green spaces, which are increasingly giving way to car parks and the maximum exploitation of development plots. Quality of life cannot be measured solely by the size of a flat or the number of parking spaces. Natural light, views, parks, playgrounds and a sense of belonging within a neighbourhood are equally important.

A city is only as good as it is accessible to all its residents. This means wide and safe pedestrian routes, functional ramps and lifts, accessible entrances, tactile paving for blind and partially sighted people, clear signage and public spaces that people with disabilities can use independently. The real question is not whether a ramp exists, but whether a person can travel independently from their home to the shops, the doctor’s surgery, a park or their workplace without relying on assistance.

Another increasingly common question is why newly constructed buildings begin to show signs of deterioration after only a few years. Koren believes the problem does not lie with contemporary architecture itself, but with the pressure to build quickly, cost-cutting on materials and poor construction quality. Older buildings were often constructed using more substantial and natural materials that withstood the passage of time more effectively, whereas modern construction is technologically more complex and consequently more vulnerable to mistakes. A contemporary façade can last for decades, but only if supported by high-quality design, materials and workmanship.

Speaking about the beauty of older buildings, Koren points out that we often judge the past by the finest examples that have survived. Nevertheless, proportions, architectural detailing and urban composition once played a much greater role, while cities were planned with a stronger long-term perspective. Today’s architects possess the same level of expertise, but they work within significantly different economic and regulatory conditions.

The aesthetic quality of a city is not merely a matter of appearance; it also has a direct impact on the health and well-being of its residents. Numerous studies confirm that green spaces reduce stress and have a positive effect on mental health. Koren warns that people do not adapt to ugliness itself; rather, they gradually come to accept lower standards. Even so, she believes change is possible. Better planning policies, more responsible investors, a stronger and more decisive architectural profession, and homebuyers who recognise that a good home is about more than just floor area are all essential. The buildings we construct today will remain part of our cities for decades to come. That is why they should be designed not merely to be sold, but above all to be lived in.