Gaze

Sensory hypersensitivity is profound in people with autism and any many have a Sensory processing disorder. This can have a large impact on people’s mental health as fear and anxiety are a common symptom of a sensory processing disorder. Some people with autism can have an improved experience in a space when it has a less stimulating environment with natural sunlight and few distractions.

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Large parks can have so many unexpected stimuli that can be deemed as too much for people with sensory processing disorders, and therefore can lead to negative impacts on ones mental and physical health. I designed a space that will provide a refuge from these stimuli, whilst encouraging people to take a calm moment to appreciate the views that Bingham Park has to offer. Therefore, I have considered the needs of people with sensory processing disorders by catering a space specifically form them. The dark walled off room is close to the front entrance to avoid walking through the space, and there are minimalised design features compared to the rest of the space, such as having no water flowing around the room to avoid the noises and stimuli associated with water. The windows are all front facing towards the view and in turn, the people using the space become part of the design from an exterior view.