Circulation Systems and Accessibility of Malls in Lagos, Nigeria: An Inclusive Design Application in Terms of Accessibility

Abstract

Inclusive design, also known as Universal design, is the ability of a place to be usable by all classes of people, regardless of their ability, age and circumstance. Circulation systems in shopping malls are an essential part of the built environment. This research sought to evaluate the circulation system in existing shopping malls in Lagos with a view to identifying the inadequacies in accessibility and produce improved accessibility conditions for designing a shopping mall. The objective of this research is to examine the level of accessibility of existing shopping malls by evaluating the circulation systems and entrances in shopping malls in the study area. The research used a mixed-method research approach, which includes quantitative and qualitative methods. Qualitative data were grouped in themes, and the descriptive approach was used to analyze them, while quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical package for social science (SPSS). The result of the observation showed that application of inclusive design at the malls in Lagos had some inadequacies, especially in the area of the corridors and aisles, entrances without alternative elements and footpaths. It is suggested that the deliberate use of the inclusive design approach be employed in design of shopping malls.