An interactive environment that uses sensors and design to simulate and support neurodiverse spatial experiences, fostering empathy and autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Severino Alfonso and Loukia Tsafoulia are architects, educators, and researchers whose practice lies at the intersection of art, design, technology, and digital culture. Co-founders of PLB Studio<\/strong> and co-directors of the Synesthetic Research and Design Lab<\/strong> at Thomas Jefferson University<\/strong>, their work focuses on the interaction between the body\u2014both individual and collective\u2014and the environments it negotiates. Alongside the interactive environment, the project is accompanied by the documentary VOICES: Experiences and Expressions<\/strong>, which explores autism as an agent of urban sonic experience through an intersectional and experimental lens. Echoes<\/em> reaffirms that spatial accessibility is key to autonomy and empowerment, paving the way for a more empathetic approach to architectural design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developed in collaboration with up2metric<\/strong>, Echoes<\/em> merges art, technology, and human perception to create an interactive environment that promotes awareness and acceptance of neurodiverse spatial experiences.
Individuals on the autism spectrum are profoundly affected by sensory inputs, making the physical environment crucial to how they engage with the world. Echoes<\/em> addresses this by inviting visitors to use their own bodies to empathize with the emotional experiences of others.
The installation is a modular physical structure built from wood and cork, integrating experimental sensors. The project unfolds across two interconnected spaces:
\u2192 Outside: a collective experience<\/strong> \u2014 Participants engage with the installation from an open, shared space, triggering dynamic light events that shift in intensity and color.
\u2192 Inside: multiples of one<\/strong> \u2014 An intimate, interior environment that acts as a personal \u201cshelter,\u201d dynamically modulating light and sound according to the participant\u2019s breathing and movement rhythms, fostering sensory self-regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n