Where is the Quiet Space?
Supported by Art School Commissions Vertical Gallery, MMU.
Where is the Quiet Space?, an installation in the Vertical Gallery at Manchester School of Art, marked the beginning of an ongoing research project exploring how neurodivergent people experience and navigate environments that are often not designed with their needs in mind. Through research into sensory-friendly design and neurodiverse experiences, I became interested in the role that quiet spaces can play in reducing overwhelm and supporting wellbeing.
The installation explored the restorative qualities of nature and sensory calming environments, drawing on research that identifies educational settings as key locations for dedicated quiet spaces. Where is the Quiet Space? questioned the absence of dedicated quiet spaces within art school environments and invited discussion around accessibility, inclusion, and neurodiversity in higher education.
This project laid the foundation for my continuing practice, which investigates how neurodivergent communities find moments of calm within urban environments. My work explores the relationship between sensory experience, public space, and access to nature, asking how cities might better support a wider range of ways of being and experiencing the world.
The installation explored the restorative qualities of nature and sensory calming environments, drawing on research that identifies educational settings as key locations for dedicated quiet spaces. Where is the Quiet Space? questioned the absence of dedicated quiet spaces within art school environments and invited discussion around accessibility, inclusion, and neurodiversity in higher education.
This project laid the foundation for my continuing practice, which investigates how neurodivergent communities find moments of calm within urban environments. My work explores the relationship between sensory experience, public space, and access to nature, asking how cities might better support a wider range of ways of being and experiencing the world.