DEAFSPACE DESIGN
Keeping things quietThere are more than 150 design elements that can make offices
and public facilities better suited to the specific needs of people
with auditory impairments. Those suggested tweaks come thanks
to research by the DeafSpace Project, a universal design effort
from architect Hansel Bauman and Gallaudet University, the world’s only higher edu-
cation institution specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing. One aim is to eliminate
distracting ambient noises, which can make it difficult for people to use their limited
auditory abilities or perceive vibrations, and can even distort the sounds coming from
hearing aids. To achieve this, designers can incorporate dampening materials such as
rubber or mossy plants into structures and decor to reduce echo. By keeping conver-
sations and other aural disturbances from traveling and bouncing around the room,
these tactics also make it easier for all sorts of students and workers to focus.70 WINTER 2020 / POPSCI.COM
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