Wonderful Copenhack

During my internship at Emergency Architecture and Human Rights I produced “CPHACK #7 – How to Become a Wheelchair Superhero”, an unofficial city map of Copenhagen that uses humour and satire to make everyday inaccessibility visible and talkable. The map is designed as a counter-map, it deliberately mirrors the visual language of tourist maps, but flips the message: instead of showcasing “Wonderful Copenhagen,” it frames the city as an urban obstacle course for wheelchair users, pointing to how “equal access” is often promised while barriers remain embedded in the built environment.   

The project was developed through a qualitative, critical process combining semi-structured interviews with participatory counter-mapping, supported by desk research and on-site observations. Rather than treating accessibility as a purely technical checklist, the map highlights how access is also shaped by culture, decision-making, and the emotional labour of navigating the city, like fatigue, uncertainty, and the extra “planning work” required to move through spaces that were not designed with bodies with disabilities in mind.   

In the final design, I used short, punchy captions, photos, and icons to communicate recurring patterns: uneven surfaces, steep slopes, broken or missing lifts, unclear wayfinding, and the everyday contradictions of “inclusive” institutions that still are not easy to enter. The satirical tone is intentional, because it helps open conversations without moralising, while still making the underlying critique clear.   

This map is also a continuation of Emergency Architecture & Human Right's “Wonderful Copenhack” campaign, which uses critical and humorous mapping to engage Copenhagen’s urban challenges and broaden public discussion through dissemination and partnerships.