Importance of Children

Children are always on my mind. I can't stop thinking about them. Whether it is my 2 year old cousin, the children in my community or the kids around the world; they hold a special place in my heart. There is happiness that I receive from their presence. The world seems perfect when I spend time with them. Nothing else matters. My heart yearns to be with kids. It yearns to help them, to teach them and to make them smile. When I give my time to children, I gain so much more. You receive so much when you give. They usually don’t expect much from people. They accept people just as they are. They long for our presence. When we spend time with kids, we show them that communication is important. We show them that interaction is important. Most significantly, we show them that love is important. There are so many children who are neglected and mistreated; many children who are suffering, with no one to care for them. Who do they run to? Who is responsible for them? Are there people who know how to help? Sometimes assistance can hinder people even more. It is important to become aware of the needs of children because they are the future. I think that the disabled and displaced children need a little bit more attention and care. They should be given equal opportunities to grow and learn. How can design aid in offering better opportunities for disabled and displaced children? To me, the two most significant places for children are their homes and their schools- the places where they grow and learn. If physical limitations are eliminated for the disabled or displaced children, they will be given the freedom to grow and learn. If more people are given the opportunities to experience life to the fullest and given the opportunities to be educated, a brighter future will be closer. That is the goal. 

Education & Statistics

I started to do some research on the types of learning and the statistics of the blind and visually impaired:

Three types of main learning: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. The majority of learners are kinesthetic. 

Environments that heighten one's senses have shown to make a positive impact on those that are depressed, stressed or disabled. 

Many individuals who have visual impairments are learning in the same environments as sighted individuals. How does that impact their education?

How can the visually impaired be educated at a young age so that they are not as dependent on others throughout the rest of their lives?

Case Studies

I did three case studies for my thesis. I compared three different buildings- one that is designed for the average user, one that is designed for the disabled and one that is designed specifically for the blind & visually impaired.

This one is designed for the average user:

 This one is designed for the disabled:

 This one is designed for the blind and visually impaired:

Something to think about

Architecture has the capacity to be inspiring, engaging and life-enhancing. But why is it that architectural schemes which look good on the drawing board or the computer screen can be so disappointing ‘in the flesh’? -Steven Holl

Thesis Task 1 - 10.25.13

I had to illustrate, through graphics and a written essay, my thesis statement and purpose of research. 

 

I decided to design three eye charts with a different message on each one. 

The first one on the left is how a person with Cataract Disease would see. It reads: "Independence and freedom, along with safety, are what blind & visually impaired want in order to live a life without limitations because of their disability. What if it was you with this disability. What would you ask designers to do to make your life better?" 

The middle chart is how a person with Diabetic Retinopathy would see. It reads: "Engage all possible senses to increase a multi sensory experience for everyone. Make a difference in the world for the blind & visually impaired today through design. How are you going to help spread social awareness today on blindness and visual impairment?" 

The last chart is how someone with Glaucoma would see. It reads: "Architecture beyond vision to create equality between blind & visually impaired. The blind & visually impaired can still imagine what a space looks like with other senses. Will you do anything to help spread social awareness today on blind and visual impairment?

It is very difficult to see the smaller words, or even see any of the letters with these eye diseases. It is easy for sighted individuals to forget because they don't see life through that perspective. 

Under the charts, there is a collage of key words related to my research. Some of the words are: hear, smell, tough, safety, wayfinding, memory, multi-sensory, etc. 

There is also a tactile floor plan on the table. The purpose of this is for people to close their eyes and try to memorize the plan and try to draw it from memory. This is exactly what a blind person has to do- memorize the plan through their other senses and navigate through what the can remember. There is also a materials palette for people to touch with their eyes closed and try to make out what each material is. 

Another element in my presentation was an audio clip of a hotel lobby in Las Vegas. The purpose of this was for people to listen to it and try to figure out where they would be. If you listened very carefully, you would be able to tell where you were. There was a sound a slot machine in the distance, and there was an elevator noise. Even though there were these clues, out of 18 people, no one was able to figure it out. This goes to show how difficult it must be to try to navigate as a blind individual. 

"Open your eyes. Open your minds. Engage your senses."

Thoughts for Today - Typology

How did we come to know what we know? We come to know the truth through our senses. Our senses are our learning tools. As children, we innocently touch or even bite everything that comes our way in order to gain an understanding of our environment. Playgrounds are very exciting places for kids because they demand that the users engage their senses and interact socially with their surroundings. As we get older, we still have the need for sensory engagement but we tend to hold back due to past experiences and fear. 

The goal is to design sensory rich environments that will be more moving, without being stressful. There is so much that we can learn just by looking. According to Chris Downey, a blind architect, 80% of our sensory experience is visual. There is a strong dependence on the visual sense, but how about our experiences on a hot day? Not only do we see the sun shining bright, but we can also feel the warmth on our skin. How about on a rainy day? Not only do we feel the rain drops, but we can hear them falling onto the roofs of buildings and we are also able to smell the rain. How about walking into your mother’s kitchen as she’s making dinner? Not only can you smell the sweet aroma, but you can also taste the food. These are images in our minds that all people can visualize, blind or not. The senses give us something to remember. When all of the accessible senses are engaged, our experiences are enhanced. It is very difficult to photograph acoustics, smell or touch, but it is hard to forget the distinctive things we hear, smell and touch.

To me, the most important space for every individual is their place of learning. If people are taught to use their senses to understand their surroundings during their educational journey, they are likely to continue using their senses throughout the rest of their lives. As I investigate the typology of my project, it makes sense to design an educational facility. If people are taught in multi sensory spaces, not only will their memories of those spaces be more positive, but they will also be learning more. With positive experiences, more people will be excited about learning. With multi-sensory spaces, people with disabilities are given the opportunity to explore and learn. Sensory rich environments give people the opportunity to expand their knowledge to the fullest and create positive memories of spaces. 

Quote of the Day

The challenge is that while still on paper, architects must travel through the space in their mind's eye, imagining reality fulfilling the desires of all senses. -Anila Angjeli