Design Fundamentals
Evidence (both anecdotal and research-based) has shown that designing or adapting the built environment specifically with individuals on the spectrum and the challenges unique to their community in mind, has had positive effects on their lives.
When designing for autism and other neurodiversities I base the architectural strategy on what I call the “design trio”, as we need to design for the senses, the mind and for the individual, i.e. the human factor.
Designing for the Senses
Sensory challenges for people with autism encompass the five basic senses of taste, touch,
smell, sight and hearing. Additional challenges relate to the vestibular (related to our perception of motion, balance and body position by information from receptors in our inner ears) and proprioceptive (relating to how our brain determines where our body is in space through receptors in the skin, muscles and joints) systems. The challenges vary depending on which sense(s) a person is sensitive to, and if they are Hypo or Hyper-sensitive to an input. That is, an individual will either be seeking stimulation or are over stimulated by the sensory input, both cases having their own challenges for a person on the autism spectrum.
In regards to the built environment, other than taste, all senses have relevance. Designing for the senses includes not just the layout and form of the building, but also encompasses choices of systems (such as mechanical air conditioning and fridge choices) through to the specification of fixtures and fittings and choice of colours and patterns. Nothing can be chosen for aesthetic purposes alone or because it’s the standard choice. Everything creates input to our senses, so Architects and Designers alike must be mindful of the possible repercussions of using a particular lightbulb or choosing a specific patterned carpet.
Designing for the Mind
The theory of mind is the set of skills that provide the ability for social skills and social interaction. It is often accepted that people on the autism spectrum have impaired theory of mind, making it difficult for them to read social cues and context. Sine Ahnfeldt Kjeldsen, a psychologist who works with Specialist Area Autism, in Denmark explained her experience during an interview: “I have not met anyone that didn’t want friendships, but if you can’t understand others, how do you know how to act and react to others?”
Architecture can support people with autism by creating choice in their social interactions. The design needs to provide that support while maintaining a feeling of safety and personal autonomy.
Another symptom of impaired theory of mind is that people on the autism spectrum can be very literal. This particular trait has implications for how items such as signage and directions are provided within the built environment, as it can have unintended consequences. For example, a fire alarm has a sign reading “break glass” intended for emergency situations. A person with autism may break the glass after reading it in a nonemergency situation and set off the fire alarm after not understanding the social customs for emergency signage.
Executive function is a term used to describe a range of cognition function skills that help regulate, control and manage thoughts and actions. It includes planning, working memory, attention, problem-solving, verbal reasoning, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, initiation of actions and monitoring of actions.
Some of the signs of executive dysfunction are difficulties with planning, problem solving, working memory, attention, initiation and inhibition, cognitive flexibility, reasoning and (lack of) inhibition. It’s often linked to individuals on the autism spectrum. By considering issues such as safety and predictability through design, architecture can support individuals with autism who have challenges relating to executive function.
Designing for the human factor
Just as the wearing of a military uniform does not distinguish an individual’s personality amongst the many others in the same uniform, quite often people do not see past an individual’s disability to the person within. When designing any residential or work setting there is a need to meet the needs of the people using or living in the space. This includes not just the medically supportive or practical needs of their ASD diagnosis, but also the needs of the people as individuals.
While there is a commercial and operational need for building design, in some building types, to have elements of consistency and certain features, it is important to remember the person using the building. For example, designing residential settings with the ability of people to furnish and decorate their space according to their own preferences and providing the option of personal choice, contributes to their personal wellbeing, similarly in work or other settings providing choice for personal preferences ensures general well being of the people using the spaces.
Architectural Considerations
Anyone who lives with autism and those involved in the autism community will tell you that there is no black and white with ASD. There are many variables as everyone has different challenges at a different degree of severity. As with autism, there is also no black and white with Architecture; for every single design brief there are multiple solutions, and many choices of finishes and materials.
When designing for autism, I believe the process is informed by two main areas:
- The ideology behind the architecture resulting in design theory
- The practicality of the features of architectural design and specification
Designing for autism is about the approach and being quite conscious in the specification of materials and finishes.
While there are, at times, a definitive answer to some of the issues around specification of materials and systems for a building, there are also other challenges that require a case-by-case and creative approach.
Occasionally you may find yourself in a built space with no unwanted noises or echoes, no glare or sharp-edged shadows, no cold or rough surfaces, no unpleasant draughts or odours. A place with fresh air, a pleasant outlook and comfort – where your senses are at ease.
We know and treasure these places when we find them, but we rarely call for them in a design brief – and they seem to be difficult to create.
For many people with autism, dementia or other neurological disorders, the built environment has a major impact on their well-being. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder represented 29% of all participants registered with the 2018 National Disability Insurance Scheme in Australia – and yet there are no design standards or guidelines for buildings for people with ASD.
Shelly Dival’s Churchill Fellowship report “Different Buildings for Different Minds” provides an international overview of buildings designed for ASD – and an important literature review. It is a work that acknowledges the special sensitivities of people with ASD and helps us appreciate how to design buildings with a matching sensitivity – not just for those with disabilities, but also for the rest of us with a duller appreciation of the impact of the world around us.
Shelly deserves substantial support to help put her knowledge and insights into practice far and wide.
Email: shelly.dival@enablingspaces.com.au
Mobile: 0433 510 416
Offices: Toodyay and Subiaco by appointment.
Time zone: Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
Shelly Dival CF
Connecting research, industry and community to create Enabling Spaces.
© Enabling Spaces 2021