Living in the Community: Housing Design for Adults with Autism

This project brought together the autism charity The Kingwood Trust and the Royal College of Art Helen Hamlyn Centre in a research partnership to explore how design could improve living environments for adults with autism, support their specific needs and improve quality of life.

The aims of the study were to:

• Understand how the built environment and housing design in particular affects the health and wellbeing of people with autism
• Look at how housing design impacts the effective delivery of care and support for adults with autism
• Develop recommendations and concepts that show good practice in the design of residential accommodation for people with autism
• Publish key findings and recommendations as a reference for planners, architects and other key decision makers in the development of residential accommodation for people with autism

The key findings from the study were published for wide readership with a particular focus on housing providers, architects and designers involved in the design, refurbishment and development of residential accommodation for adults with autism.