The Accessible Communication of Spaces and Their Meanings

This contribution illustrates some methodologies used to develop a communication of cultural heritage in a multisensorial and accessible way. The considerations within this article guided the inclusion of items displayed in the exhibition “A Line Between Heaven and Earth: new accessibility for the ancient sundial of the University Palace” (Genoa, 21st December 2023-21st January 2024). Both the exhibition and this article center on an ancient astronomical device located within the University Palace building at the University of Genoa. Implemented in the eighteenth century, during the time the building housed the permanent headquarters of the Genoese Jesuit College, the sundial has recently been restored to working order.In this article, we illustrate an approach addressing the paradigm shift in the creation of accessible content based on two fundamental principles. Firstly, we start from a consideration of the relationship between a disabled person and the context, in which the latter – not the former - is understood to be the cause of inaccessibility. Secondly, we acknowledge that every cognitive fact is linked to the space in which it takes place. Thus, we consider the importance not only of sight, but also substitutive perceptions and those elements that link the body in its totality to the memory of the experience and to the dynamic exploration of the space itself.In order to enhance the accessibility of the aforementioned exhibition, a virtual tour was developed accompanied by explanations both in written and audio formats. A podotactile path and tactile models were also created to provide the correct support for the mental reconstruction of spaces, with the aim of illustrating spatial and knowledge paths adaptable to different needs.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.32.2024.19