Building inclusion

Building inclusion is my personal mission. I have concentrated my work as a researcher and architect on creating, building or facilitating contexts of interaction between people with and without disabilities from diverse social and professional backgrounds. I am a firm believer that in order to improve the built environment we first need to change mentalities regarding accessibility, disability and human diversity in general. This is one way to turn accessibility and inclusion into natural parts of the design process.

Professional milestones

FOUNDER AND COORDINATOR of AMAIS (2015 – Present):
- Founded AMAIS, an NGO focused on inclusive design and accessibility in architecture, technology, and social projects.
- Coordinated numerous projects aimed at designing inclusive playgrounds, public spaces, community centers, and conducting research on improving the built environment.
- Organized empathy workshops and facilitated them to promote understanding and inclusion.
PHD IN ARCHITECTURE (2020):
- Received a PhD degree with the highest honors (Summa cum Laude) from the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Bucharest.
- Thesis and research focused on enhancing social responsibility in architecture, emphasizing empathy and human diversity in design to enrich relationships between individuals and the built environment.
DIRECTOR OF REGION II, ARCHITECTURE FOR ALL Working Group (2023 – Present):
- Appointed as the director of Region II within the Architecture for All working group by the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA).
- Contributing to the advancement of inclusive design principles on an international scale.
PUBLISHED FIRST INCLUSIVE DESIGN GUIDE in Romania (2023):
- Authored and published the first inclusive design guide in Romania, furthering accessibility and inclusion in the country.
URBACT VALIDATED AD-HOC EXPERT (2024-present):
- Recognized as a validated ad-hoc expert by URBACT, offering support to public administrations, fellow experts, and urban change-makers to integrate accessibility and inclusion into the design process.
GUEST LECTURER/PROFESSOR, “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning (2024 – Present):
- Appointed as a guest lecturer at the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Bucharest. Teaching and mentoring students in courses on Rehabilitation of Built Stock, Sustainability and Technology in Interior Architecture, and Inclusive Architecture/Universal Design. These courses emphasize sustainable and inclusive design principles, preparing future architects to address accessibility, environmental responsibility, and social inclusion in the built environment.

Education

April – December 2024
- Aspen Young Leaders Program 2024, Aspen Institute Romania, Bucharest.
March – June 2024:
- Social Innovation and Management Programme 2024, NGO Academy, Wien, Austria.
October 2015 – July 2020:
- PhD in Architecture, Summa Cum Laude, “DESIGN (INCLUZIV). Totul începe prin a asculta” / “(INCLUSIVE) DESIGN. It All Starts With Listening”, at SITT Doctoral School of “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest, Supervised by Prof. Ph.D. Arch. Augustin Ioan.
October 2008 – July 2014:
- BA. & MSc. in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture at the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest.
February – July 2013:
- Scholarship, Erasmus Exchange Programme at The Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, The University of Padova, Italy.

Ph.D. arch. Iris Popescu

Building inclusion

Professional milestones

Education