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New European Bauhaus
News article20 May 2021

Inclusive dialogues for more accessible urban environments

We are interested in methods, standards and anything that can help make the built environment more accessible.

Urban Mobility Club
Urban Mobility Club
AMAIS

Are our living spaces inclusive & welcoming for all?

Iris Popescu shared through our website the example of "The Urban Mobility Club" of the Alternative Methods for Social Integration Association (AMAIS) in Romania.

Finding the answer to the 21st century's problems & how to live together in society starts by initiating a dialogue with many stakeholders.

Iris says it is essential to build inclusive dialogue spaces for the unexpected, uncounted or different & to develop our ability to empathize with real yet unforeseen needs by learning about human diversity.

The Urban Mobility Club doesn't attempt to offer a perfect answer to complex and unpredictable future challenges. Instead, they propose an inclusive dialogue with a wide variety of stakeholders as a first necessary step towards a better future for humanity.

They create a welcoming space for research & exchange. The purpose is to adjust the present spatial contract & promote a new inclusive approach to finding solutions to living together as a cohesive community.

Through the workshops & urban mobility challenges, the Club brings together people with disabilities & non-disabled people, working as a catalyst for transforming cities into inclusive environments, where public institutions have not prioritized accessibility enough.

People with disabilities develop their independent life skills & everyone gets an opportunity to learn about diversity, practice listening & connecting.

The photo presents architecture students working together with visually impaired mentors. The ability to listen & be empathetic is key in developing an architect's social responsibility.

They started with visual impairment because of the visual emphasis in architecture education & everyday life, which is dominated by social media. Their plan is to extend to other vulnerable groups & to become fully intersectional.

In addition to the continuous development of architecture & design professionals, the Club offers the opportunity to experiment & develop new products with benefits for the community. Example: inclusive tactile maps, ergonomic dishes & cutlery, etc.

? Urban Mobility Club © AMAIS

Details

Publication date
20 May 2021