MILO ARTS
MILO ARTS
CULTURAL ARTS CENTRE FOR YOUTH WITH ASD
COURSE: ART1 342: CONCEPT TO PRODUCTION IV DATE: SEPT-DEC 2024
In my first third-year studio, we delved into the realm of designing with empathy at the core— whether through universal design or user-specific solutions. The semester was divided into two phases: the first focused on research, where I explored autism on a profound level through perception differences uncovered by the ASPECTSS model. This newfound understanding demanded a unique design approach, one that went beyond conventional responses.
When the second phase arrived, we were tasked with designing a 7,000 sq. ft. cultural arts centre, and Milo Arts was born. This project set out to challenge what typical environments for people on the spectrum often get wrong— the institutional, healthcare-like atmosphere that dominates these spaces. Instead of treating sensory needs as an afterthought or a medical condition to manage, Milo Arts reimagines the experience entirely, crafting an environment that is not just accommodating, but celebratory of neurodivergent perspectives. People on the spectrum experience the world in ways that extend beyond our conventional understanding, and to limit their creative potential to a sterile, clinical setting is not just ineffective—it’s dismissive. Milo Arts is a direct response to this oversight.
Using the ASPECTSS method, the design compartmentalizes sensory experiences, allowing children to explore theatre, music, movement, and visual arts in a way that feels natural and immersive. Inspired by the microscopic world of nature, the centre transforms textures, sounds, and organic forms into distinct, sensory-driven zones—each heightening one sense while muting others to create a comfortable, engaging atmosphere.
To begin, it’s important to introduce the starting point of this project…
This led to the development of Milo, a character whose unique sensory profile became the foundation for the design approach.
The initial task was to create a sensory experience based on a hypothetical user—a child with autism.
Milo experiences hyposensitive autism, meaning he has a decreased sensitivity to sensory input and actively seeks heightened stimulation to engage with his environment. His experience shaped every aspect of the Milo Arts Centre, informing its spatial organization and sensory-driven design principles.
This understanding became the guiding principle of Milo Arts: a space designed not to limit or suppress sensory needs, but to embrace and channel them into meaningful, immersive, and creative experiences.
from the journey to the plans
The triangular form of the building was a challenge but naturally facilitated the compartmentalization of senses and experiences, allowing each space to be tailored to a specific sensory focus.
Upon entering, you are transported into nature, where the sensory journey unfolds in a way that makes you feel like a tiny creature experiencing the human world, immersed in an environment of heightened perception.
The Movement Zone, located in the classroom, strongly emphasizes proprioception and vestibular input, ensuring that spatial awareness, body movement, and balance are actively engaged.
At the point of the building, the Tactile Centre focuses on somatosensory stimulation, using texture, pressure, and materiality to create a deeply engaging hands-on experience.
In the secluded corner, the Auditory Space prioritizes auditory perception and psychoacoustics, shaping an acoustically controlled environment where sound can be explored with precision and clarity.
Each zone was intentionally placed to enhance sensory engagement in a structured yet natural way, ensuring that the entire space becomes an extension of the sensory-driven experience.
FEATUREd AREAS
1. RECEPTION 2. SENSORY ROOM ONE (HYPO-SENSITIVE) 3. SENSORY ROOM TWO (HYPER-SENSITIVE)
