Stretches Of Peru’s Sidewalks Become Useful ‘Sightwalks’ For Visually Impaired

Video screenshot via Miguel Ucañan / Circus Grey Peru

In a concrete step towards inclusivity, Lima’s sidewalks have gotten an innovative makeover. The SightWalks project, a collaborative effort between cement manufacturer Cemento Sol, the Miraflores District Municipality, and advertising agency Circus Grey Peru, is paving the way for the visually impaired to navigate the city with newfound independence.

The initiative introduces tactile tiles along the Peruvian capital’s sidewalks, a simple yet effective system co-created with those it aims to serve—the visually impaired community. These tactile tiles, marked with distinct signs, allow individuals to identify and locate nearby amenities such as eateries, financial institutions, and healthcare facilities. Users can interpret these signs through touch, using their canes to count the lines and navigate the urban terrain.

Image via Cemento Sol

Restaurants, for instance, are marked with a single stroke, banks have two, grocery stores have three, and so on.

Visual impairment ranks as one of the most common disabilities in Peru, where historically, the urban landscape has offered little to accommodate the needs of those affected. SightWalks is changing this narrative by infusing the city’s infrastructure with greater functionality and sensitivity. It reimagines the way space is used and shared, ensuring everyone moves through the city with dignity and ease.

The Miraflores district, under the guidance of Mayor Carlos Canales, is committed to spearheading this change, aiming to set a standard for inclusivity across Peru. Rooted in community collaboration and expert insight, the project has been a meticulous two-year journey of development and co-creation alongside industrial designers and engineers, considering the needs of 500,000 visually impaired residents.

Video screenshots via Miguel Ucañan / Circus Grey Peru

With significant stretches of Miraflores—over 75,000 square meters (over 807,000 square feet)—already benefiting from this tactile transformation, the project has laid a solid foundation (no pun intended) for expanding across Lima and potentially inspiring other cities worldwide.

To accompany the physical infrastructure changes, the project organizers have recognized the importance of familiarizing the community with the new system. In 2023, a series of training sessions were rolled out to educate visually impaired individuals, their families, and the wider community on how to interpret and navigate the tactile tiles—a step crucial in ensuring the success and longevity of implementation.

Cemento Sol has also taken the admirable step of making the design and patent for the tactile tiles open-source and available on its website, inviting cities worldwide to copy and adapt this universal solution for their unique landscapes. 

[via LBBOnline and Ads of Brands, images via various sources]