Accessibility ceases to be an adaptation and becomes a criterion of architectural quality.

Valencia, 27 May 2026. Accessibility can no longer be understood as an adaptation added at the end of a project, but rather as an essential criterion of architectural quality and responsible design. This was one of the main conclusions of the third edition of FuturEMAC®, the forum promoted by EMAC® Group, a leading company in technical and decorative profiles and a specialist in accessibility and universal safety, which this year focused the debate on the new landscape created by the entry into force of the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

Under the title “Real Accessibility: Between Regulation and Experience”, the event, held on Wednesday at Hub Sabadell in Valencia, brought together architects, industry professionals, accessibility specialists, and representatives from social and institutional organizations to reflect on how regulations can be translated into real solutions that improve people’s autonomy and overall experience.

During the opening session, EMAC® Group CEO Emi Boix highlighted that accessibility can no longer be viewed solely as a regulatory issue. “There is still a gap between compliance on paper and achieving truly accessible spaces, and we can only bridge that gap by listening, collaborating, and working together,” she stated.

Boix also recalled that EMAC® had already addressed this conversation during the first edition of FuturEMAC®, but that the entry into force of the new European legislation marks “a before and after” for the entire construction sector and requires a rethink of how spaces are designed and built.

The event featured the participation of Mª Carmen Fernández, Technical Architect for Universal Accessibility and Innovation at Fundación ONCE and ASEPAU; Juan López-Tarruella, Architect and PhD at C+G Técnica; José Vicente Llopis, Commercial Director for Southern Valencia at Porcelanosa; Ángel Cobo, Architect specialized in accessibility and Head of Specification at EMAC®; and Alba García Falagán, World Champion and Paralympic medalist, as well as Universal Accessibility Ambassador for EMAC® Group. The event was moderated by Luis Motes, CEO of Doyou Media.

Accessibility as a quality criterion

During the discussion, the experts agreed that the new European legislation represents an opportunity to raise quality standards across the sector and move towards a more inclusive, functional, and future-ready construction model that responds to the real diversity of society.

“Regulations should not be a barrier to delivering outstanding projects; on the contrary, they should enable the development of higher-quality projects,” stated Ángel Cobo, architect specializing in accessibility and Head of Specification at EMAC®. He emphasized the need for manufacturers, technical professionals, and designers to work in coordination to ensure that accessibility truly reaches the end user. “Designing for the end user means thinking about society as a whole, fully integrating human diversity into the design process,” he explained.

The EMAC® representative stressed that designing with accessibility criteria from the outset should be regarded as a professional responsibility on the same level as safety, hygiene, or the structural stability of a building, and should therefore be integrated from the earliest stages of a project rather than treated as a later adaptation.

Cobo also warned of the need to update Spain’s Technical Building Code in terms of accessibility, noting that it has undergone very little evolution over the last twenty years. “The new European Accessibility Act will help improve and harmonize criteria across Europe, but Spanish regulations need to adapt to today’s reality as soon as possible,” he added.

From Regulation to Real Experience

The participants also agreed that disability does not lie in the individual, but in environments that were not designed for everyone. Changing this is both a collective responsibility and a real opportunity.

Mª Carmen Fernández, Technical Architect for Universal Accessibility and Innovation at Fundación ONCE and ASEPAU, highlighted that the EAA “harmonizes digital and physical accessibility criteria” and requires a rethinking of how buildings, services, and public spaces are designed. “Accessibility is not intended to make projects more complex, but rather to normalize what should be considered from the very beginning,” she explained.

Fernández stressed that projects are still often designed without accessibility in mind and only later adapted, resulting in incomplete or ineffective solutions. “The real barrier is not architecture itself, but the lack of willingness to transform it,” she stated.

The accessibility expert also warned that accessibility is still frequently perceived as an “extra” rather than a genuine obligation. In this regard, she pointed out that until the lack of accessibility carries financial and legal consequences, it is unlikely to be taken with the same level of seriousness. “There are regulations governing issues such as safety, noise, and public coexistence, and it is difficult to understand why the same does not apply to accessibility compliance,” she said.

For her part, world champion and Paralympic medalist Alba García Falagán provided the most human perspective of the day, emphasizing that accessibility directly affects people’s autonomy and safety in their daily lives. “True accessibility means entering a space without having to ask for help. When everything works naturally, you gain more than autonomy: you gain peace of mind, safety, and freedom,” she stated.

Construction Details Also Make the Difference

Along the same lines, architect Juan López-Tarruella argued that accessibility and design are not opposing concepts. “When accessibility is integrated from the outset, architecture becomes clearer, more coherent, and more human,” he noted. He also stressed that well-executed accessibility should not be perceived as something exceptional, but rather as a natural feature of a well-designed space.

From an industrial perspective, José Vicente Llopis, Commercial Director for Southern Valencia at Porcelanosa, highlighted the importance of construction details as a decisive factor in ensuring a truly accessible experience. “Accessibility is won or lost in the details: in a well-designed transition, in the continuity of flooring, or in how materials interact with people in their everyday use,” he explained.

With this third edition, FuturEMAC® strengthens its position as a forum for reflection on the major challenges that will shape the future of architecture and construction, fostering dialogue between industry, architecture, innovation, and real user experience to advance toward safer, more inclusive, and more sustainable environments.