The influence of inclusion on property
The Vivid Sydney festival has opened and the city is on display for local and international tourists alike. As the more than 2.33 million people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities visit the world’s largest light festival, it brings the importance of inclusion into sharp focus - not only as we showcase our city to the world but when considering the physical spaces in which Australians work and live.
One in five Australians live with a disability today and we need to respond as an industry to be adapt building design, place making and community engagement opportunities to ensure that all Australians can participate.
As an example, Tumbalong Lights inclusive playground established as part of Vivid Sydney 2018 and supported by some of Australia’s largest property players and employers*, is a testament to the idea that everyone should be included whether we are planning for major events or designing and developing public and work spaces that accommodate a more diverse range of consumers into the future.
The latter sits squarely in the domain of the property industry and remains central to delivering real estate assets and environments that truly serve to break down the barriers of social exclusion.
This includes adapting physical environments to accommodate for a multi-generational and multi-cultural workforce, wellness and mental health considerations, as well as those with both physical and intellectual disabilities.
There are already a range of great examples of initiatives that set a new standard for inclusion and accessibility within the built environment.
Stockland has already developed 11 inclusive play spaces for children around the country, delivered two quiet rooms at Stockland Shellharbour designed to create a safe place for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and an adult-sized change facility at Stockland Wendouree in Victoria.
While accessibility is written into the building code, and most institutional landlords and major occupiers well exceed the minimum requirements, it will be the next phase of accessibility that can truly transform the working environment for those with a disability.
This includes the use of textures, colours and direction lighting to assist the vision impaired to navigate physical spaces, sensor technology to provide wayfinding support and indicate the availability of meeting rooms and other shared spaces, as well as the use of acoustics to differentiate spaces for easier identification.
Technology also continues to play a substantial role in facilitating greater inclusion, and we are starting to see new applications for emerging technologies. Stockland, for example, has is currently investigating opportunities with autonomous vehicles, virtual reality and other technologies which provide exciting opportunities for the future of inclusive property in Australia.
Ultimately, as an industry we are well placed to further embrace inclusion to provide equal opportunity for all Australians to participate in the cities, urban and work spaces of tomorrow. And this isn’t restricted just to the physical spaces we inhabit but the mental ones as well.
James Patterson is the chief executive of Australia and New Zealand at Cushman & Wakefield.
*Cushman & Wakefield, Charter Hall, Stockland, ARA Group, Australia Post and Westpac, collaborated to launch the Tumbalong Lights, Vivid Sydney’s inclusive play space.