RESEARCH

Multisensory Therapeutic Garden for a General Special Education School

This thesis aims to design a multisensory therapeutic landscape design for a special education elementary school. The design aims to be restorative, educational, welcoming, and enjoyable for students with special needs by consciously amplifying the therapeutic benefits of the landscape.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Children/Youth, Neurodevelopmental Differences

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function, Sensory Stimulation, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design, Education

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Nature-Based Arts & Crafts

Evidence Type: Case Studies

Measurement and Evaluation: Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This thesis project explores the design of a multisensory therapeutic landscape for a special education elementary school, incorporating research from landscape architecture, architecture, planning, and behavioral psychology. The methods involve integrating five distinct sensory therapies: aromatherapy (using aromatic plants), audial therapy (incorporating white noise through water features or rustling plants), tactile therapy (varying textures and materials), visual therapy (using light, forms, and patterns), and enclosure (providing varied levels of edge conditions). Activities within the designed space include interacting with aromatic plantings, engaging with water features, exploring tactilely diverse surfaces, observing seasonal changes in plants, and finding comfort in enclosed or open areas.

The design aims to create opportunities for play, education, community, and relaxation tailored to the cognitive abilities of students in grades 1-6. The proposed site design includes an open lawn, a traditional playground, a music area, outdoor classrooms, a produce garden, quiet rooms, a seasonal path, and a relocated soccer field. By consciously incorporating multisensory design principles, the goal is to amplify the therapeutic benefits of the landscape, making it restorative, educational, welcoming, and enjoyable for students with special needs.