AHRC Curiosity Award for “Designing for Neurodiversity”

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A child hangs from harness exploring the tactile environment of a building designed for special sensory needs. They are guided by a smiling woman kneeling next to them.
Sensory Integration Pavilion, Elm Tree Primary School, Design: Johanna Muszbek, Rosa Urbano Gutierrez, Pietro Pezzani, 2

We are proud to announce that the Designing for Neurodiversity research has been granted an UKRI, AHRC Curiosity Award [AH/Z507246/1], an 18-month project led by Prof. Rosa Urbano Gutierrez (Manchester School of Architecture) and Johanna Muszbek (Liverpool School of Architecture).

This research addresses the needs of a growing neurodiverse population, a  pioneering perspective which is essential to design future learning environments and offers a way to fundamentally rethink current design practices for educational institutions. This research pilots a new understanding of how the design of the physical environment impacts therapy outcomes and vice versa, how therapeutic practices can shape inclusive design agendas of the future, applicable to schools, homes and beyond.

We believe that the outcomes of Designing for Neurodiversity will provide equitable access to learning and will accelerate a paradigmatic shift in how we approach inclusive spatial design.