Ph.D. arch. Iris Popescu

(Inclusive)Design – Everything Begins With Listening

A render with the book being tilted on one edge.

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

Part of the guide's cover. An ilustration with a circle and a square connected by dotted lines.

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

A spring scenery in the park with a cherry blossom. Behind there are the silhouette of two people looking at a panel.

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.

Playfinding

An image with the concrete sand-table and the sand pit on the Danube shore.

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

A group of people discuss with one of the researcher on a map of the neighbourhood

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

A pair of hands touching a tactile map

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

Close up of the table and the benches.

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

The playground of the promenade with the concrete sand-table. In the back there is the watch tower made of wood.

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.

A Place for Us

photo of th bench and one parent sitting with a child.

In Bucharest, public space is primarily dedicated to vehicles rather than pedestrians, causing tensions between drivers and pedestrians and prompting inventive ways to claim space due to a lack of action from authorities. There is a growing movement advocating for pedestrian prioritization and reclaiming public spaces, but community consensus is needed for progress. A Place for Us is an initiative using a simple bench installation during Street Delivery 2020 to reclaim a pedestrian area, highlighting the need for public spaces that foster social interaction and long-term community benefits

PopUP Răspiua – Inclusive, Mobile Playground

Photo taken through one of the wooden casemattes. Inside there are 3 children playing on the armors.

PopUP Răspiua, part of the Răspiua initiative, is a mobile, inclusive play installation designed to connect able-bodied children and those with disabilities. Featuring geometrical, modular designs that stimulate imagination and sensory perception, it supports cognitive and social development.