Álvaro González, the delegate for Housing Policies and president of the Municipal Housing and Land Company of Madrid (EMVS Madrid), participated in a round table discussion titled ‘From need to solution: how to accelerate accessibility in buildings and cities’. This event took place at the Official College of Architects of Madrid as part of the Accessible Mobility Day, organised by TK Elevator in collaboration with Europa Press.
During his speech, González advocated for the significance of public-private collaboration in advancing the removal of architectural barriers. He stated, “The Administration provides funding and regulations, while the sector—developers, installers, technicians, and professional associations—offers the capacity to execute; without this collaboration, no plan reaches the street.”
He emphasised that “accessibility is not an extra,” but rather essential for individuals to live in their homes, access the street, go to work, or visit family. In Madrid, nearly 210,000 people have some form of disability, according to municipal data from 2022. A significant portion of the residential stock was built decades ago, when elevators and accessible routes were not considered.
González pointed out that the challenge lies not only in incorporating accessibility criteria into new constructions but also in adapting existing buildings. He explained that the City Council has various instruments that complement efforts on buildings, homes, and public spaces, including the Rehabilitate Plan, Adapt Plan, Transform Your Neighbourhood, and the Regenerate Madrid Plan. “We help eliminate all architectural barriers, from the entrance to the home itself,” he noted.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of facilitating access to financial aid for homeowners' associations through information, simplification of procedures, and financial support.
