A perfect fit

Abstract

In contemporary society, a large part of the housing stock for people with autism focuses on living with house mates and in-house support (Berger et al., 2005). It seems, through several extensive questionnaires, that 65% of those individuals seek another housing situation, namely independent housing of some sort (Begeer et al., 2013). Design of these types of apartments should be done with great care, since individuals with autism can suffer extensively from ill-designed surroundings (Schrameijer, 2013; Alexa, 2017). Nowadays, most housing that is available, still feels very institution-like and is scarely furnished. For this research, the following main question will serve as guidance: Which architectural elements can increase the well-being of people with autism within their home environment? The research focuses on three elements: literature study, typological research, and questionnaires/interviews with residents and personal tutors. The results deriverd from this research, are divided in problems and solutions, which then are further categorised in themes: sensory, social, and spatial. As a conclusion, I have strived towards creating conclusive guidelines for design. I have applied these design principles in my graduation project which contains a new modern little courtyard, as well as the transformation of an old school building. In these designs, I aim to show how the principles can be applied in several ways: more rigorously in the new development, while being more restrained and subtle in the transformation project. Firstly, sound appears to be the most disturbing factor in housing situations: this notion kept reoccuring in the research. Other annoyances were: glare and reflection of sunlight; abundance of darkness during the night; an unlogical routine space; lack of personal space; feelings of unsafety; forced social interaction; problems with wayfinding; lack of personalisation opportunities. To solve these problems, several solutions have come up during the research. These solutions have been summarised with addition of design suggestions, including: application of a high amount of sound insulation materials; use of matte finishes; providing a spatial layout that supports (and creates expectations for) routine; design fully equipped houses with addition of common rooms in the building; allow for social interaction, both planned as well as accidential; create opportunities for personalisation; design transitions thoughtfully. These research elements have resulted in the design of a modern Dutch little courtyard (e.g. 'hofje'), where the design has been adapted to the residents through all scales: from urban to interior level.