Dr. Irina Akhmanova’s Post

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Architect | PhD | LEED AP | WELL AP

Imagine a 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗹 truly designed to meet the needs of visitors with 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝗔𝗦𝗗). A space that dedicates one day every week to creating a comfortable, welcoming environment for individuals with ASD and their families or caregivers. >>𝗗𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀. >>𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻. >>𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀. >>𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆—𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁. Now, how many malls around the world are doing this? Here’s an insight I gained during my trip to Kuala Lumpur for the UIA2024 Forum: KL has three #Sunway malls that operate exactly like this. A huge thank you to Ar. Mumtazah Mustajab for sharing this inspiring example with me! And it got me thinking: How much does offering this option cost from an architectural and design perspective? The answer: almost nothing. Small tweaks in lighting, materials, and layout can easily accommodate these needs. But the impact on visitors? >>Families with ASD members feel safe, included, and valued. >>The overall visitor experience improves significantly. >>Consumer behaviour shifts positively—when people feel welcome, they’re more likely to return and spend. It’s a powerful reminder: inclusivity isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about understanding and acting on the real needs of diverse groups. Thoughtful design, paired with operational adjustments, has the potential to create life-changing experiences for people who often feel excluded from everyday activities. What’s stopping more malls from following this example? #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityMatters #ASD #UIA2024KL #ArchitectureForAll #DesignForImpact

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