A step of three centimetres can become a wall for a wheelchair user. This is exactly what second-year students on the BA in Architecture experience for themselves.
Since 2021, the awareness-raising course on accessible design has been an integral part of the curriculum of the School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering. The Interdisciplinarity 1 module is led by Hartmut Göhler in collaboration with the Swiss Centre for Barrier-Free Architecture in Zurich.
From technical standard to physical experience
The technical requirements set out in the SIA 500 standard (door widths, ramp gradients or contrast levels) become a direct experience in the obstacle course. In Hall 180 and on the Lagerplatz site in Winterthur, students navigate cobblestones in wheelchairs, move through space using a visual impairment simulator and feel their way up and down staircases.
The Design for All concept is thus transformed from a planning principle on paper into a tangible benchmark, creating environments that can be used by as many people as possible from the outset.
The obstacle course is organised by Valérie Ginier, while Joseph Schmid provides expert input on SIA 500. People with disabilities also take part in the exercises as experts in their own everyday lives. The course not only simulates barriers, but also learns from those who live with them on a daily basis. The photographic documentation was produced in collaboration with Pro Infirmis.
