Studio 08

Designing with neurodiversity: codesigned inclusive housing in regional Victoria

Andrew Martel and Kirsten Day

This studio is available to students enrolled in ABPL90169 Design Thesis.

Studio Description

This project will investigate relationships between inclusive and diverse medium-density housing and accessible neighbourhood infrastructure, illuminating what is necessary to enable, promote, and sustain people with disabilities’ work-life opportunities in Wodonga (in regional Victoria).

In this studio you will explore the importance of co-design and working with people living with disability to design inclusive housing. The focus will be on medium density housing that is integrated into the neighbourhood and ‘third places’ that provide intermediary spaces between working-from-home and formal workplaces.

The Site: 26 Huon Street, Wodonga

There will be two trips to Wodonga. The first visit early in the semester will include the site in Huon Street and the surrounding area, and meeting with the local community and council. The second will be toward the end of semester to present your work (TBC in person or via zoom).

This studio is only available to face to face students.

Studio Outcomes

The studio has two primary design outcomes. Initially, students will conceive a personalised co-design methodology for engaging with the local community of people with disability in Wodonga. The result of the co-design process will be the second outcome - a medium density housing design that is inclusive and facilitates appropriate work-life balance for people who are neurodiverse.

Exhibition after the semester - optional

Studio Leaders

Andrew and Kirsten are both architecture teachers and researchers in the Faculty. They have run a series of thesis design studios exploring housing design for people who are neurodiverse and how thinking about disability and diversity changes the way in which we conceive of home. A current theme of their research is investigating how the home is increasingly integrated into work, social, health and other spheres of public life while needing to maintain the private attributes of safety, comfort, rest and rejuvenation.

Readings & References

Codesign

• Blomkamp, Emma. ‘The Promise of Co-Design for Public Policy’. Australian Journal of Public Administration 77, no. 4 (December 2018): 729–43.https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12310.
• Steen, Marc. ‘Co-Design as a Process of Joint Inquiry and Imagination’. Design Issues 29, no. 2 (April 2013): 16–28.https://doi.org/10.1162/DESI_a_00207.
• Sutton-Long, Cat, Kristina Skov Aagaard, Zaana Howard, and Vito Tassone. ‘Co-Design for Community Inclusion’. Huddle and National Disability Scheme, 2016.www.nds.org.au/images/events/files/huddle_report.pdf.

Neurodiversity

• Ahrentzen, Sherry, and Kimberly Steele. ‘Advancing Full Spectrum Housing: Designing for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder’. Arizona USA: Arizona State University, 2009.https://d3dqsm2futmewz.cloudfront.net/docs/stardust/advancing-full-spectrum-housing/full-report.pdf.
• Day, Kirsten, and Andrew Martel. ‘Designing for Neurodiversity: Reimagining the Home for a COVID Normal Life’. In Proceedings of the 37th Annual ARCOM Conference, edited by L Scott and CJ Neilson, 67–76. Glasgow, United Kingdom: Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 2021.
• ———. ‘The Home as a Work-Life Hub: A Policy (and Design) Blackspot’. In Changes and Innovations for Improved Wellbeing in Construction, 256–65. Glasgow, United Kingdom: Glasgow Caledonian University, 2021.https://www.w099tg592020.com/uploads/1/3/0/5/130510093/cib_proceedings_2021_final.pdf.
• Martel, Andrew, Kirsten Day, Mary Ann Jackson, and Saumya Kaushik. ‘Beyond the Pandemic: The Role of the Built Environment in Supporting People with Disabilities’ Work-Life’. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, Architecture, Urbanism, and Health in a Post Pandemic Virtual World: Challenges and Opportunities in Education, Research, and Practice, 15, no. 1 (1 December 2020).https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-10-2020-0225.
• Mostafa, Magda. ‘Housing Adaptation For Adults With Autistic Spectrum Disorder’. Open House International 35 (2010): 37–48.https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-01-2010-B0004.
• ———. ‘An Architecture for Autism: Concepts of Design Intervention for the Autistic User’. Archnet-IJAR : International Journal of Architectural Research 2 (2008).https://doi.org/10.26687/archnet-ijar.v2i1.182.

Schedule Tuesdays 12:00-15:00 and Fridays 09:00-12:00
Off-campus Activities Week 2 and Week 11, $300

Contact Handbook