From April 14 to 18, Wiebke, Hannah, Meret, Kathi and Janina from the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Urbanistik and European Urban Studies took part in the BIP 'Inclusive & Accessible Environments for Disability' at the "Università degli Studi di Bergamo", as part of the "BAUHAUS4EU European University Alliance", under the supervision of Jolien Vandoorne.

Together with students from "Université de Picardie Jules Verne", "Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco", and Bergamo, we experienced a vibrant week filled with lectures, exchange, and a variety of hands-on workshops – all centered around exploring what accessibility means across urban, architectural, and graphic design contexts.

From start to finish, the week was a celebration of ideas and experiences! From a guided tour through the old town with Tante Mani, to an Ethical Compass workshop by "Tangible", and even an 'Aperisegno' hosted by the Bergamo branch of the Italian National Association for the Deaf ("Ente Nazionale Sordi"), where we got to learn sign language over an aperitif  - we had it all! Despite the rainy weather, the-umbrella-morning walks to the university were worth it every single day!

Looking back on a week full of impressions, the BIP opened our eyes to the many everyday barriers people with different needs and disabilities face – and sharpened our awareness even more to keep questioning the prevailing design and planning habits.