Designing Accessible & Sustainable Spaces: The Power of DeafSpace Principles

DeafSpace is a design approach developed by Hansel Bauman based on five key touch points between Deaf experiences and the built environment: space and proximity, sensory reach, mobility and proximity, light and color, and acoustics. By incorporating these principles into the design of buildings and public spaces, architects and designers can create environments that are not only more accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, but also more sustainable and energy efficient.

Two design teams, Skanska and Mithun, have incorporated DeafSpace principles and green building elements into their project for the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) in Washington. They offer a unique approach to Deaf-led design as they recognize that it does not exist in isolation from other green building design principles. Rather, it can work in tandem with the natural environment and elements of green building design to create sustainable, energy-efficient spaces that are accessible and inclusive. An example includes optimizing natural light and ventilation to help reduce disruptions to visual communication or utilizing mass timber to extend sensory reach.  

Skanska-Mithun’s CDHY building and Hansel Bauman’s work serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives in design. It also highlights the potential for innovation when we challenge traditional approaches and embrace new ideas as DeafSpace design prioritizes the sensory experience of space and acknowledges the unique ways in which Deaf individuals interact with their environment.

As we continue to design green buildings, it is imperative that we have a diverse and inclusive approach, incorporating underrepresented people in the design and implementation process.