From regulatory compliance to inclusive experience: Reframing accessibility as design identity in an accessible hotel room.

Abstract

Accessibility in hospitality environments is often interpreted primarily through regulatory compliance, resulting in accessible rooms that are identifiable through technical fixtures rather than through coherent spatial design. This study explores an alternative approach in which accessibility becomes an integral component of design identity. The research presents the redesign of an accessible hotel room in SSAW Hotel (China), where spatial configuration, furniture systems, and interaction interfaces were iteratively tested through layout experimentation, dimensional adjustments, and cultural enhancement. The project investigates how physical accessibility, informational legibility, and cultural references can be integrated into the spatial logic of the interior, supporting diverse users’ disabilities. At the same time, culturally informed elements, such as bamboo-inspired lighting and a blue-green chromatic palette, reinforce spatial coherence. The study demonstrates how accessibility can evolve from a regulatory requirement into a design-driven strategy shaping inclusive hospitality environments.

Keywords: Inclusive Design, Design For All, Accessible Environments, Spatial Identity

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008018