From Commodity to Functionality: What Vitruvius Didn't Tell Us About Accessibility
From Talk Architecture by Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
May 28, 2026 · 27 min · Season 20 · Episode 26
About this episode
The episode explores the concept of Utilitas from Vitruvius in relation to modern accessibility challenges in architecture.
Send us Fan Mail Continuing the exploration of Vitruvius's Venustas, Firmitas, Utilitas, host Naziaty turns to Utilitas — usually translated as function or commodity — and asks what it really means in the 21st century. Drawing on a RIBA article, Accessible Architecture: How Today's Inclusive Spaces Can Help Solve 200 Years of Accessible Design Challenges, we trace the long, uneven history of disability in the built environment, from Victorian asylums and Gordon Cullen's 1931 awareness work, t...
People in this episode
Host: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
Topics covered
- accessibility
- Vitruvius
- disability
- built environment
- inclusive design
Keywords
- accessibility
- Vitruvius
- Utilitas
- disability
- architecture
- inclusive design
- built environment
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Accessible Architecture: How Today's Inclusive Spaces Can Help Solve 200 Years of Accessible Design Challenges
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