When starting with Siemensstadt², one of Siemens biggest future projects in history, Berlin’s mayor Michael Müller stated solemnly:

“A district of tomorrow is being created here in Siemensstadt², and today we have the chance to consider what such a place should look like.”
Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin

view from Siemensstadt to the TV tower/ look of the first new buildings from the building competition

Indeed, what a wonderful opportunity we have been given. Every day we work on the design of Siemensstadt², we address the exciting question of how we want to live in the future. And of course we already have a vision: we want this new urban district, this 70-hectare big piece of the future to be open, sustainable, environmentally friendly, resource-saving, low-noise, green, compact and livable. With modern solutions and technologies, we want to make our contribution and be a role model for a better tomorrow.

And another thing is already clear and particularly important to us:

We want to create a place of encounter, a place that is accessible to EVERYONE
Stefan Kögl, General Manager Siemensstadt²

But how does a location look that enables equal participation for people with and without disabilities, without excluding anyone? What do we have to consider when planning?

There is only one way to find the answers. Pose the questions.

Marina Zdravkovic, Raul Krauthausen, Stafan Kögl, Sarah Tietze-Kamya recordimg the podcast

In the last #SiemensstadtCalling episode about inclusion and accessibility, Raul Krauthausen, a renowned German disability rights activist, and Marina Zdravkovic, Chairwoman of the Central Representative Council for over 3300 employees with disabilities at Siemens AG, reflected on exactly these questions. They shared their visions, approaches, experiences and very personal views with Stefan Kögl and Sarah Tietze-Kamya who implement the Siemensstadt² and gratefully took in all new ideas.

After the podcast Marina, Raul, Stefan and Sarah, consider from their own perspectives what they regard to be the main findings of this enriching conversation.

Inclusion and accessibility: the new normal?

Sarah: I have to admit, the Podcast with you guys was quite an eye-opener for me. I felt naive because I presumed that the implementation of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities into our lives had progressed much more. What shocked me most, and what I really didn’t expect, is that persons with disabilities still encounter so much exclusion in their day by day lives. Especially in a city like Berlin, which claims to be so progressive, open and inclusive. Be it because there are only 12 handicapped-accessible taxis in the whole of the city and you can’t get home without a reservation in time, or because there is no access to the restroom, because it is in the basement and the elevator only goes to the first floor after hours. We are much further from inclusion and accessibility being part of our lives than I had imagined and there is still a lot of work to do.

Marina: Definitely. And as a wheelchair user I can even confirm that from firsthand experience.

Marina Zdravkovic, Chairwoman of the Central Representative Council for employees with disabilities at Siemens AG

It’s the year 2021 and we still have to deal with the same issues as 10 years ago. We have very little legislation in the private sector that obliges private companies to be barrier-free. My job is to look at areas where the legislature doesn’t really support us, which is why we have reworked and modernised our inclusion agreement at Siemens AG. We have regulated how we want to deal with accessibility in the buildings, in IT, and also in inclusive recruiting. I can implement these things in the company with the employer on my side and also feel and see a direct result. This is what I like most about my job.

Inclusion should, of course, be part of normal life just like all the other diversity aspects that we have.
Marina Zdravkovic

We need more dialogue, exchange and more awareness to ensure equal participation of people with disabilities in education, in work and also the freedom to develop personally and be able to shape their own lives. But what we need above all is action. In the future I would like to have less discussion and talking and more actual living the topic of inclusion.

In der nächsten #SiemensstadtCalling Episode sprechen wir mit @raulde über #barrierefreie Städte. Ist #Berlin eine Stadt für Alle? Was muss bei der Gestaltung der #SiemensstadtSquare bedacht werden? Habt ihr Fragen an uns? Gerne👇🏽 #OffenfürNeues pic.twitter.com/cZrVGYdUC8
— Siemensstadt² (@siemensstadt2) June 11, 2021

Raul: Siemensstadt² is a great opportunity and if we’re already starting to build our own district from scratch, let’s ask the question: How do we create places of encounter?

In my view, sustainable urban planning begins with the openness to consider inclusion and accessibility in all areas and from the very start. From the garbage cans to the daycare centers, the pavements, the roof terraces, the toilets, transport and the playgrounds. To design them such that no one feels restricted, neither people with disabilities, nor the non-disabled.
Raul Krauthausen, disability rights activist

And most importantly, to create places of encounter so that the non-disabled majority in society does not have the opportunity to avoid the topic of disability. Everything should be accessible without barriers and without exception. We have to start thinking holistically and not just in terms of an addition. I think that should be our goal.

Accessibility is ultimately not just great for the minority with disabilities – we all benefit from the elevator at the main train station; when we have luggage, a baby carriage or are simply an elderly person with a walking frame. We all benefit from subtitles or acoustic announcements on public transport.

Technology with purpose – for a barrier-free city.

the first step towards the new city district Siemenssadt², urban planning

Stefan: I am glad, we started this dialogue at an early stage. It has definitely increased my awareness for the topic of accessibility, both personally and with regard to Siemensstadt². We now have the opportunity to consider and design a neighborhood that is barrier-free and truly accessible to everyone, taking into account that barriere-free accessibility is also the better alternative for old people or even children. It has also certainly made me aware of our handling of technologies in this context.

Implementing technology to give everyone the opportunity to create accessibility for themselves, individually. That is our goal.
Stefan Kögl

We therefore begin by creating a digital twin model in advance that will give us the opportunity to check all processes before building begins. With Siemensstadt² we have the opportunity to shape future society and ideally become a role model for an accessible future.

Defining TOGETHER what smart and livable means

Marina: Exactly. And I want to add one other important matter:

We have to put different people around the table as we have done in the podcast. Subject matter experts from construction, architecture, urban planners, politicians, but also people who have different types of disabilities and are also specialists for that certain disability.
Marina Zdravkovic

It can be that not everything that is accessible for one person is necessarily accessible for another. From my point of view, before the first foundation stone is placed we have to talk about it – openly and directly. We also have to explain our fears and concerns to each other in order to see how we can approach each other.

Everything must be considered in advance and then it must be implemented step-by-step in order to avoid unpleasant and costly surprises.

We need to gather the opinions of those affected and look at how we can achieve accessibility, despite the lack of legislation in this area and despite the frequent lack of understanding. In my opinion, this is the only way that a new district can grow successfully.

Fostering inclusion, diversity, accessibility as part of our sustainability framework DEGREE

Sarah: Ultimatly everything we discussed in our podcast contributes to the goals of the sustainability framework DEGREE, that was recently launched at Siemens. By launching DEGREE we are accelerating our sustainability approach, thereby committing ourselves to clear and ambitious targets across D.ecarbonization, E.thics, G.overnance, R.esource efficiency, E.quity and E.mployability.

Fostering inclusion, diversity, accessibility and community development to provide a sense of belonging is definitely one central promise of this framework. Siemensstadt² is the perfect proofpoint for our commitment.

#SiemensstadtCalling

That was a taste of our latest SiemensstadtCalling Podcast. It gave us a great deal of inspiration and new ideas. Ideally we create a district of real encounter, a place where we can stop thinking in categories and all move freely everywhere, unhindered and without assistance. Whether as a person with a disability, a parent with a baby carriage or an elderly person. A district EVERYONE can be an equal part of. Let’s get started and make this vision a reality.

If you want to hear the complete podcast or read the transcript click here: https://www.siemensstadt.siemens.com/en/events/podcast-accessibility-and-inclusion