Designing for pupils with the autism spectrum disorder, case study of the Autism Centre in Muroor, Abu Dhabi

Abstract

The number of diagnosed cases of autism spectrum is increasing. The peculiarity of the perception of the outside world by people with ASD leads to reflection on the impact of architectural solutions on their sensory comfort and the effectiveness of therapy. Leo Kanner was one of the first to speak out about the needs of patients with autism. He said they see a world built from small elements which make up layouts and sequences. The experience acquired under the given conditions will not be accepted when any element is disturbed (Kanner, 1943, p.249). Teams of therapists, neurologists and psychiatrists need a properly prepared infrastructure which will provide stable conditions to work with an autism spectrum student. It is, therefore, necessary to develop benchmarks for the specialised design of new buildings, on the basis of which the existing buildings will be possible to be adapted properly. The article is a case study for the Autism Centre in Muroor in Abu Dhabi designed by Simon Humphrey. The facility was classified as the best suited for people with autism according to the Autism ASPECTSS™ developed by Magda Mostafa at the American University of Cairo. The study was based on the opinions of designers. Previous design studies in this area are an important part of the design process and require detailed definitions to be formulated. The basis for careful analysis is the question: what is autism and why we say it is a spectrum. Autism is a triad of disorders that occur in communication, social interactions and stereotypical behavioural patterns. Spectrum refers to the fact that in each affected person, the disorder consists of different mechanisms and causes which are responsible for the developmental difficulties. Sensory sensitivity of people with autism has different faces. It is not possible to develop a universal pattern that will work in any case. The bases of developmental dysfunctions are sensory perception disorders, i.e. hypersensitivity or insensitivity to sound, light, touch or smell. The study shows that an important aspect is the conscious use of the elements that affect these senses. The studies presented in the article concern the assessment of the impact of selected elements shaping the sensory aspects of the internal environment of the building, such as acoustics, lighting, finishing materials, colours, ventilation and visual identification. The evaluation of the building presented in the article is an expert one, and is based on the opinions of specialists working with people with such a spectrum. It was carried out on the basis of archival design and photographic documentation provided by the designer. The result of interdisciplinary cooperation is defining these elements by analysing the solutions used in the Autism Centre special school in the context of their impact on the perception of people with such a spectrum. Certain rules will help to eliminate the erroneous design assumptions. Shaping the space of educational facilities can greatly help in revalidation. Therapeutic and architectural treatments should be aimed at providing an enclave in which the student will be able to achieve the psychophysical comfort.