(Inclusive)Design – Everything Begins With Listening
My PhD thesis focuses on the architect’s social responsibility and the benefits of using empathy in design as a way to enrich the individual/ community relationship with the built environment, while defining a new architecture program based on an “inclusive social context” for segregated communities. The book based on the thesis was published in 2023 at Paideia Publishing house.
Public Spaces Without Barriers
This book has guidelines for accessibility or inclusive design of public space, but it is not an exhaustive list of design requirements. It is necessary to have a solid knowledge base of design norms and standards, to which we must add information received directly from the community through analysis from the concept phase and continued until the in-use phase. At the moment, there are no 100% inclusive solutions in architecture. It also offers information on accessibility analysis and how to conduct them.
Accessibility Analysis – Vacărești Natural Park
The “Biodiversity Trail Accessibility” project aims to make the urban biodiversity trail in Văcărești Natural Park accessible to people with disabilities. The long-term initiative should involve adapting the trail with ramps, tactile cues, and audio guides to ensure an inclusive experience for diverse visitors. This project is part of a broader effort to integrate accessibility into natural spaces, promoting equal opportunities for everyone to enjoy nature.
Inclusive Design: Empathy Exercises for The Design Process
The first inclusive design guide in Romania highlights the experiences of those often overlooked—the “uninvited” and “different from the norm”—who face daily challenges in the built environment. Instead of offering specific solutions, this book serves as a collective manifesto that emphasizes our shared responsibility to the community by reaffirming the importance of inclusive design while reminding us that anyone could become the “uninvited guest” in the conversation about the built environment.
The UNINVITED – Bucharest Architecture Annual
The UNINVITED exhibition at the 2023 Architecture Annual focused on accessibility, inclusion, and the diverse possible perspectives on disability as temporary, contextual and permanent through six video interviews. Curated by architects Iris Popescu and Mihaela Șerban, the installation explored diverse perspectives on the city’s relationship with these themes.
Playfinding
Part of the Mahmudia Waterfront design project, the playfinding sculpture is the main element of the playground area. It is an object designed after focus groups with kids with various disabilities and parents. It is a sculptural element that offers freedom in use and the possibility of children creating their own play scenarios.
120 Hours of Community Service – Workshop and Public Space Analysis
The project involved mapping four public spaces in Sector 2, resulting in detailed urban assessments, moodboards, and recommendations for improving these areas. Community input was gathered through consultations and surveys, ensuring that local perspectives were included. This initiative was a collaborative effort between multiple organizations and institutions, presented as part of the 2021 Bucharest Architecture Annual.
Wayfinding
Series of projects that focus on wayfinding design, specifically creating inclusive orientation and information panels that enhance the accessibility of the built environment. The panels are designed to guide all users effectively, making public spaces more navigable and user-friendly. By improving wayfinding, everyone, regardless of ability, can easily access and understand their surroundings.
The Inclusive Table
Christmas markets are bustling spaces where people shop, eat, and socialize, but how accessible are they for people with temporary or permanent disabilities? This question guided the design of the “Inclusive Table,” a modular installation created for a Christmas market in Ljubljana for Mastercard Slovenia. The installation, featuring circular tables and benches with varying accessibility features, aims to collect user experiences and stories related to inclusion, while fostering a dynamic and adaptable dialogue space.
Inclusive Waterfront on the Danube
Mahmudia, a commune on the edge of the Danube Delta, is attracting increasing tourism, prompting the Local Council to develop the Danube bank into an inclusive public space for both locals and visitors. The project, created through community consultations, focus groups, and feedback sessions, resulted in an accessible infrastructure featuring the Mineral Park, the Communal Promenade, and the Communal Garden. The design prioritizes accessibility, circulation, and orientation, with ongoing assessments planned to ensure ease of use and accessibility for all.