Wayfinding Accessible Design

This text is the result of an ongoing research that shows how accessibility take an important role into a wayfinding and landscape design project related to an historic route named 'Via Regina' which is connected with the famouses Via Francigena and Via Spluga, all along the frontier between Italy and Switzerland. It puts particular emphasis on accessibility and orientation in the paths and places used by everyone but also and especially by people with different abilities, allowing them to have access and to appreciate the beauties of this historical walk. The project consider the "Design for All principles" as guidelines to develop a wayfinding system as inclusive as possible, with last generation technology supports like the Finger Reader, Ownfone system, dyslexic fonts, Circuit Scribe system, QRCode+Arianna Phone App and other existing tactile and sound devices (sound shower, magnetic field, tactile surfaces and floor, Braille system, 3D sculptures) and panels with the correct readability (distance, fonts size, colors) and perception for the user. Also we want to underline and re-evaluate the concept of "Slow Walk" and the tendence to prefer the slow fruition of the landscape in opposition to the stress-like style of life we conduct every day. We include in this process the valorization of the typical materials, folks and traditions, history of pilgrimage, smuggling, commerce exchanges, architectures and places of worship that are reflected into the project supports.