Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 10(2), pp. 644 - 658
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2022.100220
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The Spatial Experience of Visually Impaired and Blind: An Approach to Understanding the Importance of Multisensory Perception

Dina Bakir ^1,2,*, Yasser Mansour ¹, Shaimaa Kamel ¹, Yasser Moustafa ², Marwa H. Khalil ^2
1 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
² Department of Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Cairo, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Design has long focused on the visual sense, with the neglect of other human senses. Currently, there is a growing body of literature that presents how perception is actually multi-sensory in nature. The visually impaired and blind rely on their other senses which make them appreciate other spatial qualities. The aim of the study is to understand how they experience and perceive the built environment through their compensatory senses. More specifically, the study intends to determine the spatial qualities that can enrich the multisensory experience in the built environment. A phenomenological research approach is adopted. The study relies on two different types of narratives. First, the autobiography of Taha Hussein "The Days" as a past experience of a blind person was selected. Second, in-depth semi-structured interviews and guided tours with visually impaired and blind informants were conducted. Instead of looking at what they are limited to, the study identifies their sensory capabilities that were enhanced by the surrounding environments. Through the exploration of such capabilities, the paper extracts multi-sensorial spatial qualities that cater for such capabilities. The paper identifies specific physical characteristics that were perceived by the visually impaired and blind informants regarding the surrounding spatial envelope. Findings of this study also show that sensory perception of physical characteristics acted as a dominant theme helping in cognitive processes such as constructing mental imagery, cognitive maps, and operating in the built environment. The findings of the study were discussed in light of previous research and literature. Such findings are expected to provide relevant insights for a multisensory design approach that engages all the senses, and helps designers provide users with richer experiences.

KEYWORDS
Multisensory Perception, Spatial Experience, Visually Impaired, Autobiography, Spatial Qualities

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Dina Bakir , Yasser Mansour , Shaimaa Kamel , Yasser Moustafa , Marwa H. Khalil , "The Spatial Experience of Visually Impaired and Blind: An Approach to Understanding the Importance of Multisensory Perception," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 644 - 658, 2022. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2022.100220.

(b). APA Format:
Dina Bakir , Yasser Mansour , Shaimaa Kamel , Yasser Moustafa , Marwa H. Khalil (2022). The Spatial Experience of Visually Impaired and Blind: An Approach to Understanding the Importance of Multisensory Perception. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 10(2), 644 - 658. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2022.100220.