The Spatial Experience of Visually Impaired and Blind: An Approach to Understanding the Importance of Multisensory Perception

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