Grasping Berlin - shaping Berlin

Making Berlin accessible to all

Berlin is taking its ambition to be a world-class example of a ‘barrier-free city’ seriously. It has compiled a series of planning guidebooks; developed a tactile scale model of the city for visitors and citizens alike and is spreading the barrier-free culture through a dedicated stakeholder group.

Developing guidelines The two manuals, ‘Berlin Design for All’, provide experts and planners with a set of requirements and planning principles to help create a barrier-free city. One manual is dedicated to publicly-accessible buildings and the other to publicly-accessible free spaces, and both are intended to complement existing laws, regulations and technical requirements. It is now mandatory to use the manuals for the design and construction of all state buildings in Berlin. The team developing the manuals worked closely with a number of affected individuals to ensure they really do provide guidelines which respond to the needs of the visually impaired and less able.

Getting to grips with the city While the manuals are aimed at professionals – architects and urban planners – an exhibition opened in Berlin in February 2011 to raise awareness amongst the public of the importance of a barrier-free city. It consists of a scale plan of the city constructed in a specially-developed sand and plastic material which is both tactile and hygienic. This allows residents and visitors alike to get a feel for the city, literally. They can explore the city on a 1:2000 scale using their senses, with important landmarks picked out in 1:200 scale.

Berlin should be accessible in all its diversity without barriers. This is a political request and a goal of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Visually Impaired Individuals in Berlin. Dedicated to the concept of design for all, the tactile model, ‘Grasping Berlin - shaping Berlin‘ makes it possible to experience the urban structure of Berlin with all the senses. Ephraim Gothe, permanent secretary for building and housing, Senate department for urban development and the environment

where: Berlin, Germany cities in action what: mobility, social affairs April 2013 when: 2009+ The purpose of this exhibition is to allow afield. The handbooks have been translated less able citizens to understand the urban into English as well as into Russian by Moscow environment and to familiarise themselves city council which intends to use them for the with the city’s structures and layout under the barrier-free transformation of the city. principle of ‘design for all’. A dedicated website supports the The city has since made use of Radio Frequency dissemination of barrier-free concepts, Identification technology (RFID) and Personal providing an interactive platform where Digital Assistants (PDA) to provide audible interested parties can share ideas, collaborate information on 150 points of interest within and exchange knowledge. The manuals are the city model in order to better communicate also available for download from the city’s the city’s characteristics with visitors. The website. model is now on permanent display at the The manuals and models were both financed Senate department for urban development through the Senate department for urban and the environment in central Berlin. development and environment’s budget. As with the manuals, the models were designed The models cost €134,000, including a 2011 in collaboration with affected individuals, upgrade and the standalone models. The who acted as a consulting body to the manuals cost €79,000 including content development team. Some 200 students from creation, design and layout and translation. Berlin Technical University also participated Making Berlin accessible to all in the development process, during which the precise dimensions of the models were determined, financing was secured and the material was created.

Berlin is taking its ambition to be a world-class example of a ‘barrier-free city’ seriously. It has compiled a series of This unprecedented tactile model of Berlin’s city planning guidebooks; developed a tactile scale model of the city for visitors and citizens alike and is spreading the centre has many purposes. It allows citizens to get barrier-free culture through a dedicated stakeholder group. both an impression of the city as a whole and a more detailed idea. It is not reserved just for blind and visually-impaired citizens but is a contribution to the Developing guidelines social and cultural participation of blind and visually- The two manuals, ‘Berlin Design for All’, provide experts and planners with a set of requirements and planning impaired citizens and visitors to Berlin, to help them principles to help create a barrier-free city. One manual is dedicated to publicly-accessible buildings and the other gain a deeper understanding of the city. to publicly-accessible free spaces, and both are intended to complement existing laws, regulations and technical requirements. It is now mandatory to use the manuals for the design and construction of all state buildings in Berlin. Reiner Delgado, advisor, German Association of Blind and Partially Sighted People The team developing the manuals worked closely with a number of affected individuals to ensure they really do provide guidelines which respond to the needs of the visually impaired and less able. Promoting the barrier-free culture Berlin recognises that if it is to become a model Getting to grips with the city of barrier-free excellence, it is important to While the manuals are aimed at professionals – architects and urban planners – an exhibition opened in Berlin in promote the culture to the society at large. To February 2011 to raise awareness amongst the public of the importance of a barrier-free city. It consists of a scale help with this, a roundtable on ‘barrier-free city’ plan of the city constructed in a specially-developed sand and plastic material which is both tactile and hygienic. was founded on the initiative of the Senate The manuals address social sustainability, diversity This allows residents and visitors alike to get a feel for the city, literally. They can explore the city on a 1:2000 scale department for urban development and and aesthetics as issues of importance for Berlin’s using their senses, with important landmarks picked out in 1:200 scale. environment. The group, composed of around architectural culture and react to demographic 25 representatives including administrators; developments. The principles of design for all should associations for the disabled; experts and be considered during all planning phases. political delegates, meets regularly in order Berlin should be accessible in all its diversity without barriers. This is a political request and a goal to promote barrier-free access in Berlin. A Ingeborg Stude, Senate department for urban of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Visually Impaired Individuals in number of working groups have also been set Berlin. Dedicated to the concept of design for all, the tactile model, ‘Grasping Berlin - shaping development and environment coordination up to develop solutions for specific areas, for office ‘barrier-free construction’ Berlin‘ makes it possible to experience the urban structure of Berlin with all the senses. example on ‘barrier-free hospitals’. Ephraim Gothe, permanent secretary for building and housing, Senate department for Berlin’s influence has already spread further urban development and the environment

1, Square de Meeûs where: B-1000 Brussels what: tel +32-2-552.0888 cities in action [email protected] when: www.eurocities.eu Contact: Ingeborg Stude/Gerd Grenner| Berlin|[email protected]/[email protected]|