How can we support one another to thrive by including neurodivergence both in how we work together and how we design places and buildings?
Neurodiversity is the term used to describe variations in neurocognition across the whole population and includes a range of conditions: like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia. Anecdotally between 30 – 40% of staff in architectural practices could be neurodivergent (1.) this is about twice as many as found in the population overall where more than 15 – 20 % are neurodivergent.
The architect Richard Rogers described his struggles when studying and how he only realised he was dyslexic as a parent when he noticed his children’s difficulties. He founded a practice where he could thrive and bring his talent to bear through team work (2) becoming an early role model. RIBA North East’s, Change the Record Campaign Group, recently brought together three practitioners to share their experience and expertise (3.).
A prevalence of neurodiversity occurs in other design practices such as graphic design where its increasingly acknowledged that brings the abilty to harness skills in discovery, invention, creativity and enhanced spatial awareness along with challenges (4. & 5.). At the same time there is a growing awareness of how we can create and adapt places and buildings to better accommodate neurodivergence in the whole population.
The Publicly Available Specification (PAS); PAS 6463:2022, Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment came into effect in October 2022 and gives an overview of how to approach the design of buildings and places for neurodiversity as part of an approach to inclusion. The PAS focuses on design and management to reduce negative sensory experiences and support physical and mental wellbeing whilst accommodating neurological variation. It is also useful in considering how to meet the needs of people with neurodegenerative conditions.
The aim is to influence design and management so this delivers clarity, control and calm:
- clarity – to reduce the potential for sensory or cognitive overload or distress from features within the built environment;
- control – to provide flexibility, and choice to meet a spectrum of requirements; and
- calm – to offer places for recovery and respite when needed.
After setting out the scope and references and terms the document goes on to recommend approaches to:
- Developing the brief
- Site and building layout
- Wayfinding
- External spaces and access
- Internal layouts
- Mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP)
- Acoustics and noise management
- Light, lighting and reflection
- Surface finishes
- Fixtures, fittings and furniture
- Safety, recovery and quiet spaces
- Environment types
The approach recommended varies according to the location of the site. When considering public buildings and spaces its noted that: People might find public spaces and buildings overwhelming if they are too colourful, brightly lit or confusing in appearance or layout.
Design considerations could be – offering more ease of intelligibly and legibility in the ways information and spaces are organised, afording people to find their own level of comfort by offering a diversity of sensory experiences and/or controlable environments, including calm spaces that are neutral/natural and generally providing access to spaces of refuge in busy environments.
The Grimaldi Building, the RNIB’s new headquarters is the first buildings to actively apply PAS 6463 guidance winning the 2025 Disability Smart Accessible Built Environment Award. PAS 6463 will be reviewed as more exemplars are created. Meanwhile there is also a growing shared experience about how small businesses and organisations can proactively support neurodiversity in their work places (7.).
- Why do architects need to understand neurodiversity? Helen Castle RIBA Journal 18 March 2024 – https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/why-do-architects-need-to-understand-neurodiversity
- Interview with Richard Rogers, Yale Centre for Dyslexia and Creativity – https://dyslexia.yale.edu/story/richard-rogers/#:~:text=A%20Q&A%20with%20Richard%20Rogers,realized%20that%20I%20was%20dyslexic
- J.E.D.I Talk: Neurodiverse friendly architecture, RIBA North East, Change the Record Campaign Group, 2022 – Nick Simpson (LEAP), Darren Bray (Studio B.A.D Architects) and Jean Hewitt (Buro Happold) for a conversation on neurodiversity in architecture. Chaired by Chithra Marsh (Buttress Architects) – https://youtu.be/TejVp-GrqHU?feature=shared
- Is dyslexia a superpower in design? Guy Cornet – Design Week – 5 March 2025 – https://www.designweek.co.uk/is-dyslexia-a-superpower-in-design/
- Why architecture is starting to recognise dyslexia as an enhanced ability rather than a learning difficulty, Helen Castle RIBA Journal 5 October 2022 – https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/dyslexia-enhanced-ability-creativity-inventiveness
- PAS 6463:2022 Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment – Guide
- https://aimforward.co.uk/neurodiversity-inclusion-strategies-for-smes/
Image – Vajrasana Retreat, Walters and Cohen
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August, 2025