Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Accessibility
Other languages of instruction: English
Teaching staff
erovira@uic.es sbrasoveanu@uic.es
For any questions, students can email the professor.
Introduction
Society is aging, and life expectancy is increasing thanks to medical and technological advancements. Architecture must become more social and human, as throughout our lives, we all will experience situations that temporarily or permanently limit our autonomy: from pushing baby strollers, to aging, experiencing temporary accidents, or having a significant motor, cognitive, or sensory disability.
When undertaking new construction, renovations, expansions, or changes in use, we must comply with current regulations concerning accessibility and the removal of architectural and communication barriers at the state level and within different Autonomous Communities. These regulations form the foundation of this subject, aiming to improve the quality of life for all citizens by ensuring accessible environments, buildings, homes, information systems, and means of transportation for everyone.
This course is aimed at 3rd-year architecture students at the School of Architecture at UIC, as well as anyone directly related to the art of designing, planning, and building works, etc. They will understand the advantages of accessible spaces, routes, elements, services, or products, even for people with disabilities.
Currently, compliance with accessibility regulations is often seen as an obligation and a hindrance to good design, and is typically resolved independently of the initial project criteria. We propose to integrate accessibility into the original design in an unnoticed and cost-free way, resulting in a more inclusive architectural approach.
The student will discover "The abilities of people with disabilities" and that "Accessibility is not just a need for people with disabilities, but an advantage for all citizens." This also enhances the quality of their own projects.
Pre-course requirements
A good ATTITUDE
Objectives
Analyze and understand the criteria regarding accessibility for spaces, routes, elements, products, and services in our environment; not only to be familiar with current regulations but to master all the necessary details to apply accessibility in a seamless way, with standardized criteria and designs for general use, also prepared for people with reduced mobility (PMR), often with little or no additional cost.
Implement these innovative trends to critically approach accessibility law and regulations.
Train students so that soon, as architecture professionals, they can apply these accessibility criteria in their projects and design spaces for all citizens, regardless of their abilities.
Improve the quality of life for all people as architects involved in accessibility. For example: a home should be accessible and usable throughout its lifetime, including phases where the residents' dependency increases, particularly with age.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 34-T - Ability to design, practice and develop basic and execution projects, sketches and blueprints.
- 35-T - Ability to conceive, put into practice and develop urban projects
- 36-T - Ability to plan, practice and develop construction management.
- 37 - Ability to develop functional programmes for buildings and urban spaces.
- 38-T - Ability to intervene, maintain, restore and renovate heritage buildings.
- 39-T - Ability to eliminate architectural barriers
- 40 - Ability to express architectural criticism.
- 41-T - Ability to find solutions for passive environmental conditioning, including thermal and acoustic insulation, climate control, energy performance and natural lighting.
- 42 - Ability to catalogue buildings and urban heritage and plan their protection.
- 43-T - Ability to produce safety, evacuation and protection plans for buildings.
- 44-T - Ability to produce civil works projects.
- 45-T - Ability to design and execute roads and urban development, gardening and landscaping projects
- 46 - Ability to apply urban planning ordinances and standards.
- 47-T - Ability to prepare environmental and landscaping surveys and plans to correct environmental impacts.
- 48 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the general theories of form, composition and architectural typologies
- 49 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the history of architecture.
- 50 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the study methods for the processes of symbolization, practical functions and ergonomics.
- 51 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the study methods of social needs, quality of life, habitability and basic housing programmes
- 52 - To acquire adequate knowlege of the environment, sustainability and the principles of conserving energy and environmental resources.
- 53 - To acquire adequate knowledge of architectural, urban development and landscaping traditions of Western culture, as well as their technical, climate, economic, social and ideological foundations
- 54 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the aesthetics, theory and history of Fine Arts and Applied Arts.
- 55 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the relationship between cultural patterns and the social responsibilities of the architect
- 56 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the principles of vernacular architecture
- 57 - To acquire adequate knowledge of urban sociology, theory, economy and history.
- 58 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the methodological principles of urban planning and metropolitan and regional development.
- 60 - To acquire knowledge of civil, administrative, urban planning, building and professional regulations.
- 61 - To acquire knowledge of feasibility analysis, supervision and coordination of integrated projects.
- 62 - To acquire knowledge of property valuation.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Through this subject, students will acquire the necessary knowledge to design with accessibility in mind for all their projects, mastering the details to create truly accessible environments and buildings for people with significant motor, cognitive, and sensory disabilities, while also improving the quality of life for all citizens who use these spaces.
Syllabus
1st CLASS: Introduction to Accessibility
Physical, Visual, Auditory, and Cognitive accessibility for all people.
2nd CLASS: Legislation and Regulations
New Decree 209/2023 from the Generalitat de Catalunya.
3rd CLASS: Accessibility in Visual, Auditory, and Cognitive Communication
Guest lecturers. To be confirmed with the Barcelona City Council and the IMPD (Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities).
4th CLASS: Accessibility and Urban Space Design I
Public spaces, streets, squares, signage.
5th CLASS: Accessibility and Urban Space Design II
Gardens, Beaches, Urban Furniture, and Elements.
6th CLASS: Urbanism Test
Accessibility in Public Buildings I
Born Museum: interior environments and contents.
7th CLASS: Examples of Accessibility in Public Buildings II
Montserrat Abello Library: Access, routes, restrooms, elevators, etc.
Accessibility plan and public corrections, student exercises.
Accessible Businesses / CASBA (Barcelona City Council).
8th CLASS: Examples of Accessibility in Housing
Neighborhood communities, communal spaces, elevators, stairs, etc.
Student exercise corrections
CASBA (Barcelona City Council).
9th CLASS: Accessibility in Housing
Interior design: bedrooms, bathrooms, dining room, terrace, etc.
Public corrections, student exercises that have not completed CASBA (commercial premises).
10th CLASS: Test – Buildings
Public corrections, student exercises
CASBA (Barcelona City Council).
11th CLASS: Control of the Environment II: Home Automation and Technical Aids
Public corrections, student exercises
CASBA (Barcelona City Council).
12th CLASS to 15th CLASS: Public corrections of student exercises and final work submissions.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Classes will be held once a week with specialist lecturers or presentations by different architects, technicians, or users with disabilities working in the field of Accessibility and the Removal of Architectural and Communication Barriers, where they will share their experiences (using images and videos).
Students will also engage in tutor-led exercises or visit different environments to analyze their accessibility.
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | COMPETENCES | ECTS CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Class exhibition | 34-T 35-T 36-T 37 38-T 39-T 40 41-T 42 43-T 44-T 45-T 46 47-T 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 | 0,3 |
| Class participation | 34-T 35-T 36-T 37 38-T 39-T 40 41-T 42 43-T 44-T 45-T 46 47-T 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 | 0,3 |
| Clase practice | 34-T 35-T 36-T 37 38-T 39-T 40 41-T 42 43-T 44-T 45-T 46 47-T 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 | 0,33 |
| Tutorials | 34-T 35-T 36-T 37 38-T 39-T 40 41-T 42 43-T 44-T 45-T 46 47-T 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 | 0,33 |
| Individual or group study | 34-T 35-T 36-T 37 38-T 39-T 40 41-T 42 43-T 44-T 45-T 46 47-T 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 62 | 1,25 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The final evaluation will be conducted through a personal project by each student, which will consist of adapting their home and/or a workplace, including the public route to access it.
This project will also serve to raise awareness of the need for an accessible home or workplace, in case, as they grow older, both they and their clients may have mobility and/or communication needs. This will highlight the importance of good accessibility design in their professional careers and its impact on the lives of all people, especially those with significant disabilities.
Individual or group exercises and tests will be carried out on various topics related to the application of accessibility in urban planning, public or private buildings, transportation systems, and their corresponding communication systems, in order to complete their evaluation.
Additionally, a complementary project will be carried out to improve the accessibility of the project they are working on for the projects course.
Bibliography and resources
- Accessibility in construction and urban planning: Technical recommendations for projects and works. UPC Editions
- ROCA Accessibility Catalog
- People, Dependence, Quality of Life, and New Technologies. Hacer Editorial
- Decree 209/2023. Accessibility Code from the Generalitat de Catalunya
- Technical Building Code (CTE-DBSUA / CTE-DBSI / ORDEN TMA 851/2021)