Railings are everywhere. This one went viral. Why?

Why has a railing captivated the attention of thousands of people over the past couple of weeks? What does the picture evoke for you?

To me, it's a reminder of the power of design, in this case, to include. This seamless application of inclusive design was this handrail's call to fame :-)

When I first saw this picture, I was still thinking about a previous post on why biodiversity is key to "building better" for tomorrow. The point I was trying to make is that biodiversity should be woven throughout the built environment - be one with it - as seamlessly as the braille etched into this railing describes the view. 

The words of Italian author Giuseppe de Lorenzo etched in braille make sharing the view possible. It augments the experience for all and for the visually impaired in particular. It connects us. Similarly, design professionals can leverage biodiversity architecture - plant and animal communities - to augment their designs, elevate our experience, and bring us closer to the ecosystems that sustain life - including ours. Biodiversity is one of the "Four Pillars to Building Better."

Consider this an open invitation to rediscover how everything in the world relies on our planet's biodiversity.

Here is to change - by design.