Blind Architecture

“San Juan Center for the Senses” in Puerto Rico is my proposal submitted for the 5th year thesis project in my university. As architects, we strive for functional buildings as well as ones appealing to the eye. A community that doesn’t enjoy architecture the same way others do is the blind community. I designed the center so the blind could have a place to strengthen their non visual senses through a series of sensory workshops, thus giving them more independence. An example is a plant nursery (smell) where they can sell their own produce (taste), which also attracts the non-blind population. The centric and textured circulation system (touch) and sounding waterfall walls (hearing) help direct the blind to each space effectively. I believe that this place gives the blind community a safe workplace and makes the non-blind population aware of the multiple sensory elements a space can have.