JOAN Seirlis, a well-known South African architect and tireless advocate for universal design (which produces accessibility to everyone), passed away in Hillcrest on 4 November following a long illness.
Joan was one of the founding columnists of Rolling Inspiration, a lifestyle magazine producing original comment and astute insights into accessibility issues for its readers for more than a decade.
Joan was mother to Ari Seirlis (CEO of QASA and managing editor of Rolling Inspiration) and Angela Bax, and had a twin sister, Lilith Seals, and brother, Robin Emslie (former publisher of Rolling Inspiration).
She was an inveterate global traveller, seeking out famous buildings and innovative accessibility solutions, many of which she wrote about in the magazine. She was also a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on the subject of accessibility and a consultant to various projects in this regard.
In 1999, she opened a practice in her own name under the banner of universal design, which she said recognised the changes that everyone experiences during a lifetime, taking all people – young, old, tall, short, and people with various disabilities – into consideration.
From 2001 to 2009, Joan commuted to Britain to complete a number of semesters at the Faculty of Urban and Regional Studies, University of Reading in Berkshire and achieved a post-graduate diploma with a thesis titled Developing Inclusive Environments.
Joan was posthumously honoured by the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture with their Scroll of Honour in recognition of her service to architecture.
The citation on the KZN Institute for Architecture Scroll of Honour reads: “Until recently buildings, by-laws and regulations catered exclusively for able persons. Resolute in her belief in an inclusive approach, a lone architect has steadfastly fought the battle for a universally-accessible constructed environment. This Scroll of Honour is presented to Joan Seirlis by the membership of the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture with admiration and affection.”
