Take a closer look at the country we live in. No, no, even closer. So close that beyond projections, biases, and stereotypes, you can observe people as they are—in all their diversity. Elderly people who are becoming increasingly invisible on city streets, mothers, people from various social categories, those with disabilities, individuals from the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and those of Roma ethnicity. They are encouraged daily to “be who they are,” to find their voice in the community, and are invited to participate, but often, the way we design our spaces reveals that society has not reserved a place for them at the table of debate about the quality of the built environment. The unwritten code of exclusion is embedded in how we construct the world around us. Without an inclusive approach to architecture and design, we limit the participation and contribution of a broad and diverse spectrum of people.

The first inclusive design guide in Romania started from the stories of the least visible—the “uninvited,” “unpredictable,” and “different from the norm”—for whom the built environment can become a daily series of closed doors or a race full of obstacles. The book is based on Iris Popescu’s professional experience, combined with the diverse perspectives of the participants in the Empathy Retreat in 2022. The guide does not provide accessibility solutions, materials, or dimensions; instead, it is a collective manifesto to remind us all of the responsibility we bear toward the community. It is an invitation to dialogue and a reiteration of the importance of inclusive design in the long-term for people as diverse as possible—for me, for you, and for society in general. It is a call for change, empathy, and creativity.

Why? Because no matter which category you think you fall into now, your needs and abilities will change over time. You could easily become the “uninvited guest” at the debate table on the development of the built environment. This topic includes you.

Who is it for?

• People open to discovering and overcoming their biases about accessibility and disability.
• Architects, town planners, landscapers, and other construction professionals.
• Public administration (local and central).
• Civil society.

The information is useful for:

• understanding the inclusive design process;
• the development of architectural projects, product design, and urban planning projects;
• writing specifications for tenders;
• writing requirements for architectural competitions.

The book provides information on:

• demographic context and legislative framework;
• the current situation regarding the concepts of accessibility and inclusion;
• what inclusive design is and what it entails;
• the role of contexts of interaction;
• models of good practice.

What it is not:

• It is not an architectural guide with standard design requirements.
• It does not contain specifications about materials, elevations, dimensions, or other accessibility solutions.

Other information:

• If you need information about normative design requirements or accessibility solutions, we recommend the “Regulation on the Adaptation of Civil Buildings and Urban Space to the Individual Needs of People with Disabilities, Reference NP 051-2012 – Revision NP 051/2000,” developed by the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning, and the guide “Public Spaces Without Barriers,” edited by Iris Popescu in 2022, both available online.
• Images and illustrations contain boxes with their descriptions. This type of description is usually used in the digital world as alt-text. In the case of this book, they serve to highlight the importance of writing such descriptions for people who use screen readers (e.g., blind people). In doing so, we join the awareness initiative started by David Gissen, architect, historian, and person with disabilities, in his book The Architecture of Disability: Buildings, Cities, and Landscapes Beyond Access (2022).