PTEN
Trienal de 
40 pages, with a heavy papel for the braille and emboss.
With 21 coloured illustrations and a spiral bound book spine
Print run: 1500 units.
We have worked for two years on the creation of an accessible children's book for children aged 6 to 10, financed by the Portuguese Directorate-General for the Arts: a tactile illustrated album, about the house, with colours and high relief. With large print and Braille text, it can be read by children who are blind or have low vision. The illustrations are designed by Planeta Tangerina and the tactile design is made by Locus Acesso. It's a book to be seen, but also to be read and felt in different ways – like architecture – and we want it to be available to every child at school, the library or a bookshop.
With help from Prateleira-de-Baixo, which promotes children's reading, we have found amusing albums that show architecture in a wide variety of ways, but the offer of appealing books for blind or low-vision children is very scarce. An accessible tactile book is very expensive to produce, as each relief illustration is made from a costly matrix, and the more detailed it is, the more expensive it becomes.
To support its printing and make the price more accessible, we have launched a crowdfunding invitation through the PPL platform, focused on social, creative and entrepreneurial projects. Thinking about visual and tactile illustration to communicate architecture is a great challenge and this project aspires to bring to Portugal the State of the Art in the production of tactile books.
The campaign ended on May 30, 2022 and the result exceeded our expectations, with 93 supporters who contributed a total of 5845 euros to co-finance the final stage of production and make the book even more accessible. Broad participation was greatly facilitated thanks to the support of many people who passed on the message and personalities who helped spread the word in the media. We thank dearly all the people who have contributed in different ways so that every child can enjoy this book!
Comprised in the mission of the Triennale, where promoting architectural culture is a ground rule, the Educational Service works on raising awareness of the value of architecture, for being a cohesive element and creating feelings of belonging. Its activity aims to emphasise the importance of learning, experimentation and inventive expression, by helping everyone appreciate the creation of a dignified, sustainable and accessible built environment. Through pedagogical actions and tools across its annual activity plan, namely the Open House Lisboa, it opens doors to the participation of people with disabilities in the city's cultural life, also creating an intersection of audiences favourable to social inclusion. This effort is ongoing and collaborative.
An independent Portuguese publisher dedicated mainly to the publication of illustrated albums that challenge the traditional formulas of children's literature. They won the Revelation Publisher award at the LER/Booktailors Awards (2009) and the BOP Prize for Best European Children's Publisher at the Bologna Children's Book Fair (2013). Planeta Tangerina has already released more than 60 titles, most of which are recommended by the PNL (National Reading Plan), and has publications translated in more than 30 countries.
An agency committed to improving accessibility for people with physical and cognitive disabilities in public and private spaces, focusing on the areas of education, culture and tourism. They have over 20 years' experience in the field of cultural accessibility. Together with institutions they produce accessibility diagnostics and action plans, training actions on the assistance to people with disabilities, design of accessible activities, exhibitions and tactile materials.