Architecture and Neurodivergence: Designing for Different Ways of Perceiving Space

Wide doorways, properly designed ramps, and elevators are essential to a building’s accessibility. But whether people can actually use its spaces also depends on the sensory conditions they offer. For some neurodivergent people, this is critical, as bright lights, overlapping sounds, or confusing circulation routes can prevent them from staying in a space and participating in activities.

Architecture and Neurodivergence: Designing for Different Ways of Perceiving Space. Winthrop Library © Benji Drummond Written by Eduardo Souza Published on November 03, 2026 Wide doorways, properly designed ramps, and elevators are essential to a building’s accessibility. Jack Chaffin, a partner at Johnston Architects, draws attention to these barriers in an interview with ArchDaily: "A building may therefore comply with accessibility codes and still be functionally inaccessible to someone who becomes overwhelmed, disoriented, or exhausted by it." + 4.