Spring 2020Arch 5102 Design X - Cornell University Undergraduate Thesis

B.Arch Thesis Advisors: Erin Pellegrino and Leslie Lok

Addional Support: Roberto Bertoia

This thesis project is focused on designing for the senses and answers the question of what it means to design a space that is generated by the experience of light, sound, touch, and color, through the lens of autism. This project manifests itself as a daycare center for children with autism in the Ithaca, NY area.

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder are not alike. Not only can symptoms vary drastically from person to person, but individual proficiency can vary as well. People on the spectrum can range from being very gifted to suffering from severe mental disability. A child on the hyposensitive end of the spectrum often displays sensory-seeking behavior and enjoys rough play due to their high pain tolerance. This means that furniture built into the space should be durable yet dynamic so that the child can understand how their actions affect the environment without enduring any physical injuries. On the other hand, a hypersensitive child experiences sensory overload if too many of their senses are activated at a single moment in time. This situation is far more difficult to cater for and requires the architecture to slowly introduce common sensory scenarios without causing stress or discomfort. Improvements in lighting design, color, texture, material, circulation and acoustics would benefit everyone regardless of neurological variance. Architecture and interior design interventions can improve the lives of people both on and off of the spectrum.