HOW CAN INTERIOR DESIGN BETTER INTEGRATE SENSORY BASED DESIGN ELEMENTS INTO CURRENT ART THERAPY CENTERS? Revamping current art therapy centers by integrating in sensory design to create an autistic friendly user journey that promotes security and social interaction while healing. Literature Review
Sensory Interior Needs
What is Autism? ODD
Sensory Integration Disorder
ADHD
Tourette’s
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Anxiety
Depression
ADD
Specific Learning Difficulties
Calm, order, and simplicity
Auditory Processing
Minimal details and materials Containment
Observation
Gifted OCD
Proportion
Proxemics
Natural light
Developmental co-ordination disorder
Acoustics
Research Findings Survey Most Uncomfortable Space -Waiting Room
56%
Waiting area comfort
Therapy room comfort
85%
62%
44%
Causing the Discomfort Needs Improvement -Sensory Frindly -Occupancy -Calming -Less Doctor office syle
Interviews
-Behind closed doors -Leaving parents (familiarity)
53%
32%
Texture
Furniture Layout
Notice in the interior that helps keep child’s FOCUS (professionals) -fewer visuals -fidget iyems -noise reduction ares -low light
Apprehensive
Color palette
Current Findings
-Concentration -Distracted by room elements -wanting parents
Autism ASPECTSS Design Index
Literature Review
Interviews
Surveys
Case Studies
Solutions
ASD Design Guidelines
New Findings
INTEGRATION of sensory vs ASD only -integration -more social opportunities
COMFORTS during high occupancy/sensor area. -sound canceling headphones -distract them
Feel comfortable at home -Own Space -Comfort Items -Headphones
Data Results
Interiors
Therapy
44%
-Comfort areas to use by therapist and child before therapy -Areas that they can partially see into
Observations
Multiple seating options Sensory friendly areas Kid friendly waiting areas Comfort during high occupancy Depart from parents The unknown Focus in art therapy rooms Autistic friendly color scheme Nature scheme
Design Strategies CONTROL SENSORY OVERLOAD
PROMOTE A SENSE OF SAFETY
ESTABLISH AN AUTISTIC-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
•need for comfort during high occupancy •attention brought to elements of light, sound, and smell.
•autistic child's fear of the unknown
•need of less clinical spaces and focus needs.
GOALS: create a sense of place attachment through the comfort of the space will spark the bond needed to feel safe in the space. Integration of a transition area to establish trust with the therapist and the safety of going with them
GOALS: linked with the other strategies in the use of sensory elements and the establishment of comfort. Focus on the biophilic design scheme, to incorporate the natural color scheme to help invoke serenity among the space. Along with incorporating the materiality autistic children respond well to that do not cause agitation.
GOAL: break spaces up into sensory areas that will only allow for certain senses to be active at one time
Art Sense Therapy Center User Journey
Concept
Entrance Or
ien
F i n d C o mfort A r e a
ta
(Sensory Area)
tio
n
Destination
Tra nsition ro o m
T h e ra p y
Users
The normal response to the word atypical is negative, but this is not always the case. The Japanese aesthetic that focuses on ďŹ nding beauty within imperfection is known as wabi-sabi. Looking at it this way, the word atypical takes on a positive meaning of belongingness because the imperfection is integrated into whatever one applies the aesthetic to. In this sense, the concept of atypical integration is to show how something atypical can be incorporated into space cohesively and beautifully.
Re
or
Primary User
Autistic Children Neurotypical Children 5-12 Yrs. Old
ie
nt
R e w a r d /C l e a n U p
at
io
n
Secondary Users Caregiver Therapist
C o nf
t n e r erence w/ P a
Departure
Stimulation Control Areas and Circulation
Offices (N.I.C)
Sensory Waiting Area
Entry (N.I.C)
Conference Room
Sensory Hall Way
(N.I.C)
(N.I.C)
Clean up Room
Transition Area
(N.I.C)
Group Therapy Rooms (N.I.C)
High Stimulation - Low Focus Transition Art Therapy Rooms (N.I.C)
Low Stimulation - High Focus
Curved surfaces
Eliminated fear of unknown by using perforated felt wall
Lower acoustic panels in activity areas
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Sensory Waiting Room
Lower acoustic panels in activity areas
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Partitioned off quiet area for sensory needs
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Nature scheme
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Different sensory areas marked with carpet color change
Created areas that only use certain senses
Curved surfaces
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Nature scheme
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Eliminated fear of unknown by using perforated felt wall
Lower acoustic panels in activity areas
W a ll S e a ti n g
Separation of area done with perforated felt wall to eliminate unknow factor and control acoustics
Multiple seating options from private to group
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Transition Area
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Multiple seating options from private to group (no more than 4)
CONTROL SENSORY OVERLOAD
PROMOTE A SENSE OF SAFETY
Carpet change to show space separation without creating physical barriers
ESTABLISH AN AUTISTIC-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
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