Iginio Rossi: Architecture as Social Responsibility

What is a city? Not just walls, streets, and squares, but a living organism made of relationships, times, and needs. This is the starting point for Iginio Rossi , architect and urban planner, coordinator of the " Accessible Cities for All" at the National Institute of Urban Planning (INU). His vision is clear: architecture must not limit itself to designing forms , but must create better living conditions for all , without exclusion . Iginio Rossi conceives architecture as a system of relationships that must make the city inclusive , accessible, and capable of embracing diversity . His approach is not limited to overcoming architectural barriers , but embraces the social, economic, and cultural dimensions of urban living .

The idea of ​​accessibility

For Iginio, talking about accessibility means going beyond architectural barriers.
There are physical , of course, but also sensorial, cognitive, and bureaucratic ones : overly technical language in public services, poorly integrated transportation, an unreadable website.
Architecture then becomes a language of inclusion , capable of simplifying daily life and restoring dignity to those often left on the margins.

The city as a network of well-being

Accessible Cities for All project isn't a theoretical exercise, but a practical laboratory. Iginio Rossi has linked it with other INU thematic networks:

• Soft mobility , to rethink travel in a sustainable and inclusive way.

• Cyclical territories , to imagine cities that regenerate and transform themselves without endlessly consuming resources.

In this vision, accessibility is not an isolated sector, but a common thread that connects housing, work, the environment and mobility .

Tools and projects

• Atlas of Accessible Cities: a platform that collects best practices and case studies, useful for students, administrators, and citizens.

• The "Accessible Cities for All" Award recognizes degree theses and research that address the topic with creativity and rigor.

• Local experiments: pilot projects demonstrating how accessibility can drive urban regeneration.

A thought that educates

Iginio Rossi 's way of describing architecture is didactic and engaging. It speaks not only to professionals , but to anyone who experiences the city ; with a threefold value. 1 It invites us to slow down and observe public space as a place of relationship. 2 It shows that accessibility is also an economic and social issue : by 2050, 15% of the world's urban population will be made up of people with disabilities. 3 It reminds us that an inclusive city is also more competitive and sustainable , because it values ​​all the energies of the community.

Iginio Rossi teaches us that architecture is not just aesthetics, but social responsibility . It is an invitation to look at the city with new eyes : not as a collection of buildings , but as a laboratory for coexistence . Every barrier becomes an opportunity for innovation, every space an opportunity for encounter. Ultimately, building accessible cities means building everyday democracy .