UIC and Mutua de Propietarios Foundation have signed a collaboration agreement with the aim of promoting accessibility as an essential value in architecture and urban planning. The initiative is led by Enrique Rovira-Beleta, a lecturer at the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture and an expert in accessibility.

As part of the agreement, Mutua de Propietarios Foundation will fund three prizes for Architecture Final Projects by UIC students that incorporate accessibility criteria. The awards will be presented from 19–21 October, with representatives from both institutions in attendance.

Enrique Rovira-Beleta welcomed the agreement: “It helps position accessibility as a fundamental aspect of architecture rather than a secondary issue or one that is solely regulatory in nature,” he said. The accessibility expert added that “collaboration with Mutua de Propietarios Foundation makes it possible to generate knowledge, raise awareness and create new opportunities for accessibility to become increasingly embedded in the built environment and, above all, in homes designed for lifelong living”.

“At the Foundation, we believe that progress towards a more inclusive society requires us to drive change that goes beyond removing existing barriers. We must help ensure that new generations of professionals naturally integrate accessibility into the design of the spaces in which we live. By working with the University, we can lay the foundations today for the homes and cities we want in the future,” said Cristina Pallàs, managing director of Mutua de Propietarios Foundation.

Turning to the issue of accessibility and housing in Spain, Rovira-Beleta said: “Action is needed to improve Spain’s existing housing stock, where 80 per cent of homes are neither accessible nor suitable for older people,” he said. “These considerations must be incorporated from the outset and become an integral part of the way architecture is conceived. This can be achieved through education and training in schools of architecture and universities.”

Each year, the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture presents the TFGs of fifth-year architecture students in collaboration with companies and institutions committed to innovative solutions with significant social impact. The projects are assessed by a professional judging panel, which chooses the best proposals.

The Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at UIC includes a compulsory module entitled “Accessibility”, taught by Enrique Rovira-Beleta. According to the expert, UIC is one of the few universities in the world to include accessibility as a core subject for architecture students.