A Shared Apartment in Zurich Connects ETH Students with People with Spinal Cord Injuries
In Zurich, a unique residential initiative has been launched that merges two worlds. Students from the prestigious ETH Zurich share a home with people living with a spinal cord injury. This model, the first in Switzerland, builds an inclusive living environment from the ground up, where learning arises from daily interaction. 🏠
Direct Experience as a Driver of Learning
The residents, many of them future engineers or architects, do not just rent a room. They immerse themselves in the everyday challenges their roommates face. By using the common spaces, they identify architectural and social obstacles firsthand. The university trusts that this personal contact will reshape their future professional judgment.
Key Impacts of Cohabitation:- Students observe real barriers in kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.
- Constant interaction generates empathy and practical understanding.
- Ideas emerge to design more functional environments and objects for everyone.
The real challenge is not cleaning the kitchen, but designing one that anyone can clean.
A Goal that Transcends Housing
The project goes beyond solving a housing issue. Its central goal is to train the next generation of creators with a unique vision on accessibility. When these students design buildings, technologies, or policies, they will integrate the lessons learned in this social laboratory.
Expected Long-Term Results:- Professionals who incorporate inclusion in their designs from the start.
- Technical and urban solutions that improve the lives of people with disabilities.
- Contribute to building a society with fewer physical and social barriers.
An Experiment with a Vision for the Future
This initiative functions as a living social experiment. It combines the need for student housing with a powerful pedagogical tool. By living diversity, future professionals acquire a sensitivity that no textbook can offer, laying the foundations for a more inclusive world. 🌍