How can we create housing that is accessible to all? What barriers prevent people—especially individuals with disabilities—from finding adequate housing, and how can universal design help shape more inclusive communities?
At the second Open House Europe Annual Summit, hosted by the Irish Architecture Foundation, The City Includes panel explored the intersection of housing, accessibility, and independent living. Despite legal frameworks recognising the right to adequate housing, many people face long waiting lists, unaffordable options, and inaccessible design. This discussion brought together experts with professional and lived experience to highlight solutions that prioritise equitable housing, universal design principles, and community inclusion.
This panel was joined by Fíonnadh McGonigle, Standards and Monitoring Officer at the National Disability Authority and Centre for Excellence in Universal Design; Nicola Ryan, Co-Director of Studio Red Architects; Jack Kavanagh, Director of Move the Needle; John Fulham, Public Engagement Manager at the Irish Wheelchair Association; and Felix Hemmers, Project Manager and curator at Baukultur Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Moderated by Louise Bruton, Freelance journalist, disability rights activist, DJ, and playwright.
Annual Summit Host: Irish Architecture Foundation
Co-organisers: Forum Kunst und Architektur (Open House Essen) and Culture and Management Club (Open House Brno)
Project Coordinator: Architektūros fondas, financed by the Lithuanian Culture Institute
Principal Funders: The Arts Council, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Office of Public Works, Dublin City Council
Accommodation Partner: Staycity Aparthotels
Programme Partner: Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
Partners: Regionalverband Ruhr, Route Industriekultur
Project Media Partner: ArchDaily
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Partner Festivals:
Open House Athens and Thessaloniki (Open House Greece), Open House Bilbao (Asociación Open Urbanity), 48h Open House Barcelona, Open House Brno (Culture and Management Club), Open House Dublin (Irish Architecture Foundation), Open House Essen (Forum Kunst & Architektur), Open House Praha, Open House Roma, Open House Stockholm, Open House Lisboa (Lisbon Architecture Triennale), Open House Slovenia (AFRONT zavod za prostorsko inovativnost), Open House Milano, Open House Tallinn (Mittetulundusühing Eesti Arhitektuurikeskus), Open House Valencia, Open House Vilnius (Architektūros fondas).
The project is co-funded by the European Union.
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