Good Architecture Takes Care. A Different Approach on Special Needs Education
Keywords:
architecture, environmental psychology, inclusive design, phenomenology of architecture, special needs education.Abstract
The Good in architecture may reside in the accomplishment of its design, in the lastingness of its constitution or in the ability to fit a certain context, but, besides all these, it has to reside in the regard to the people. Good architecture takes care of the people that benefit both directly and indirectly from it. The paper proposes a different approach on special needs education: one look that explores phenomenology of architecture and environmental psychology in order to seek new and possible answers. Pointing some ongoing dimensions of the subject through the lens of personal experiences in three countries, Italy, France and Germany, the paper suggests that suitably designed learning environments, thoughtful integration of users‟ needs outlined by inclusive design, responsibility in architecture starting from educational level and finally, the built environment in general, as an influential presence in human life can also provide valuable tools in special needs education.References
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