Reframing Accessibility as a Risk Management Concern in Malaysian Heritage Buildings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/idealogy.v11i2.978Abstract
Heritage buildings represent important cultural assets that preserve historical identity while supporting tourism, education, and public engagement. As publicly accessible places, they should provide safe, equitable, and independent access for all users, including persons with disabilities (PwDs), older adults, and individuals with temporary mobility limitations. However, accessibility in heritage buildings has traditionally been evaluated through regulatory compliance and physical accessibility audits, with limited consideration of how accessibility deficiencies may affect user safety, building usability, and heritage management. This conceptual paper argues that accessibility should be understood not only as a design requirement but also as a risk management concern. Drawing upon literature on accessibility, heritage conservation, and risk management, the paper examines how common accessibility deficiencies may contribute to safety, operational, governance, and social inclusion risks within heritage environments. Supporting observations from Malaysian heritage buildings are used to illustrate how barriers such as raised thresholds, improvised ramps, and inadequate accessible facilities influence independent mobility and the overall visitor experience. The paper proposes a conceptual perspective that reframes accessibility from a compliance-oriented approach towards a risk-based understanding of heritage buildings. By integrating accessibility, conservation, and risk management concepts, it establishes a theoretical foundation for future accessibility assessment and more informed decision-making among heritage managers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners. Ultimately, the paper contributes towards safer, more inclusive, and sustainable heritage tourism by encouraging a more comprehensive understanding of accessibility within the heritage-built environment.
Keywords: Heritage Buildings, Accessibility, Risk Management, Heritage Conservation, Inclusive Heritage Tourism.
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