Spring 2020
Arch 5102 Design X - Cornell University Undergraduate Thesis
B.Arch Thesis Advisors: Erin Pellegrino and Leslie Lok
Additional Support: Roberto Bertoia
Le Corbusier states in, Towards a New Architecture, that “...man looks at the creation of architecture with his eyes, which are 5 feet 6 inches from the ground,” this point of view neglects the needs of those who do not fit this design construct. Autismspeaks.org estimates a 15% increase in diagnosed cases of autism in the past two years which correlates to 1 in 59 children in the USA. This increase most likely is due to advancements in medical technology as well an increased awareness and knowledge of the disorder. Despite the increasing rate of ASD in the US, it is disheartening to see that little has been done to accommodate the particular needs of both children and adults in the United States and around the world.
In preparation for this research project, I administered a survey to teachers at a school in Cincinnati, Ohio which caters to for children with autism and other disabilities as well as grades K-8. The survey showed that the majority of the teachers needed to make special alterations to their classroom in order to create a more relaxing or enriching environment for children who struggle with autism spectrum disorder. I soon realized that ASD is entirely excluded from the United States Building Code. This is most likely due to the fact that no two people on the spectrum are alike; hypersensitive people experience sensory inputs in a drastically different way to hyposensitive individuals. In addition, the degree of severity tends to be unpredictable which thus increases the difficulty of designing for people on the spectrum. These observations lead me to research the nuances of sensorial design and wellness.
Focused on designing for the senses, this project 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, and is manifested as a daycare center for children with autism in the Ithaca, NY area.
