about me

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

references

Stijn Baumers | Ann Heylighen, supervisor | K.U.Leuven

feedback

presentation

approach

Architecture & Mental Disability

PhD project

The Eyes of the Mind

this PhD research is a satellite project of AIDA

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

approach

PhD project

about me interdisciplinary research team spatial experience of people with other capacities as source of design knowledge

presentation

supervisor: Ann Heylighen, PhD research professor (associate professor) K.U.Leuven; Dept. of Architecture, Urbanism & Planning (ASRO) - PhD in Engineering: Architecture - research on design knowledge embedded in design projects & processes - ERC Starting Grant: ‘Architectural design In Dialogue with dis-Ability’ (AIDA)

feedback

K.U.Leuven; Dept. of Architecture, Urbanism & Planning (ASRO) - MSc in Engineering: Architecture, 2008 - PhD Fellowship of Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) Oct 2008 - Sept 2012

references

Stijn Baumers, MSc

about me - characteristic cognitive base other way of information processing.

- built environment used/interpreted by diversity of people.

=> autism & architecture: impact of autism on spatial experience & environmental behaviour; impact of architectural design on interpretation of environment.

research questions: I. II. III. IV.

how do people with ASD deal with space? [BEHAVIOUR in space] which sense-making makes them use space in a particular way? [COGNITION of space] how can use of space be influenced by physical environment? which aspects of environment play a role in it? [POWER of physical space] what are implications for designing architecture? [ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN]

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

approach

embodying the ideology of the design;

restricted & repetitive actions;

presentation

- physical space

- diagnosis on account of behaviour

feedback

- design of space loaded up with designers’ line of thought;

autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

references

architectural design

PhD project

The Eyes of the Mind – Architecture & Mental Disability

about me case studies: design projects <<

>> field work: participative observation

to investigate how the design of space can anticipate use, interpretation & sense-making of the environment, also in interaction with people with autism; [= the ARCHITECTURAL response] optional cases under consideration; research topics for master theses.

to gain insight into interaction of autistic people with physical environment; [= the BEHAVIOUR in space] collaboration with people with autism & preliminary observation; further observations planned.

>> literature: stories by themselves to understand better their experience, interpretation and sense-making of the world; [= the COGNITION of space] analysis in progress.

synthesis & analysis mutually verifying the results of both tracks

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

PhD project

starting from people with autism

approach

starting from architectural design

presentation

- track B

feedback

track A -

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research design, qualitative approach

funded by Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) > deepening knowledge about people and their environment, to increase the social & cultural level of society

quality criteria: > clear objectives with relevance to field of study > thorough knowledge of field & relevant literature > verifiable & reproducible, but profound research > make original & ambitious contribution to field; showing high ‘novel’ value > make results known to public in a convincing way

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

PhD project

about me > connecting to architectural theory & design practice > investigating how innovation in design process can contribute to the quality of the built environment

SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

approach

designing

presentation

HUMANITIES connected to & SOCIAL SCIENCES K.U.Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Dept. of Architecture, Urbanism & Planning (ASRO) research group Design & Building methodology

building technologies

feedback

architectural sciences

references

PhD research

dept. ASRO_-_structure

L

how to position their knowledge, stories & interpretations in relation to stories of people with autism themselves, without letting them dominate?

> synthesis of both tracks tracks start from specific point of view, but are not independent L L

exchange/interaction before synthesis? or, integrating feedback into each track based on synthesis?

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

PhD project

about me > track B (from people with autism) knowledge of counsellors & relatives

approach

L

does a focus only on projects for people with autism narrow outcome & bias insight in opportunities of architecture? or, does a general approach of relation between spatial configuration & experience complicate a possible synthesis between both tracks?

presentation

L

feedback

> track A (from architectural design) design projects conceived for autism, as designers’ response on autism

references

feedback topics:

Noens I. & van Berckelaer-Onnes I. 2004, “Making sense in a fragmentary world”, Autism, 8(2), Sage Publications and NAS, pp.197-218 Pallasmaa J. 2005, The eyes of the skin. Architecture and the Senses. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Zeisel J. 2001, “Universal Design to support the brain and its development”, in: Preiser F.W. & Ostroff E. (Eds), Universal Design Handbook. New York: Mc Graw Hill, pp.8.1-8.14

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

PhD project

about me Landschip T. & Modderman L. 2004, Dubbelklik: autisme bevraagd en beschreven. EPO & VDA

approach

Hendriks R. 1998, “Egg Timers, Human Values, and the Care of Autistic Youths”, Science, Technology, & Human Values, 23(4), pp.399-424

presentation

Grandin T. 1995, Thinking in Pictures. And Other Reports from My life with Autism. New York: Vintage Books

feedback

Baron-Cohen S. 1995, Mindblindness: an essay on autism and theory of mind. Cambridge (Mass.): MIT press

references

references

about me

| 3 0 - 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 | N O R D E S 2 0 0 9 _ D o c t o ra l C o n s o r t i u m

references

Stijn Baumers | Ann Heylighen, supervisor | K.U.Leuven

feedback

presentation

approach

Architecture & Mental Disability

PhD project

The Eyes of the Mind