Open Buildings of Europe: Collection of Good Practices for Accessibility Audits (OBLIGE) is a significant project initiative launched to address a major gap in how accessibility is understood, implemented, and promoted across Europe. Funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Program as part of small-scale partnerships in vocational education and training, this strategic partnership brings together our association from Austria, Romania, and Turkey. Its overall aim is to raise accessibility architectural standards by identifying, analyzing, and promoting exemplary buildings that showcase best practices in accessibility.

The project emphasizes real-life, current applications in the field of accessibility, thereby reducing the often wide gap between legal frameworks and practical implementation. By examining public buildings such as museums, hotels, and religious sites, it demonstrates how accessibility can be achieved in different architectural styles and historical contexts. The information gathered, compiled as a practical toolkit for building inspections, aims to enable professionals and others to make changes in their own environments.

The publication we have prepared as part of the project is designed to serve a broad and diverse audience, including professionals and non-professionals, as a result of intensive collaboration with partners and other stakeholders, fieldwork, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Architects, construction engineers, and urban designers will find practical frameworks and references they can apply in ongoing and future projects. Property owners and managers, especially those responsible for hotels, restaurants, and public spaces, can use this guide to understand regulatory expectations and user needs and plan improvements that enhance functionality and customer experience.

Social service professionals, NGOs, and advocacy groups for individuals with disabilities can use this publication as a resource for campaigns, training, and community engagement. Policy makers and municipal planners will find this publication useful when setting strategic priorities, designing policies, and allocating resources for inclusive infrastructure. Educators and students in architecture and urban planning programs can incorporate this material into curricula that emphasize user-centered and inclusive design.

This guide has been prepared to provide easy access to conceptual and practical information. Readers can learn the basic concepts and principles of accessible architecture, examine case studies from Austria, Romania, and Turkey, and apply step-by-step recommendations for improving accessibility in buildings. Supported by photographs, pictograms, and checklists, the content provides technical information, summaries, tools, cost-benefit analyses, and policy recommendations for professionals, general users, institutions, and investors. The guide goes beyond understanding accessibility and calls for its implementation, emphasizing that accessibility represents a standard of equality, participation, and dignity. The publication is also available in Romanian and German.

To reach a wider audience, a digital version of this publication and its tools is available online. The QR code below provides direct access to:

-The full digital version of this publication
-Accessibility audits of 9 buildings in 3 countries
-The Audara APP link

Users can scan the QR code to instantly view and download the relevant materials, ensuring they have the resources they need to implement accessibility improvements in their own projects.