Overview
Location:
Montevideo, Uruguay
Organisation:
Espacio Lúdico
Partner Organisations:
Intendencia de Montevideo
Year:
2024
Scale of Proximity:
Neighbourhood – Pop-up Space
Target Beneficiaries:
Children aged 0-10, caregivers, and the neurodivergent community
Redefining Public Spaces
The Sensing the City project in Montevideo, Uruguay, is a groundbreaking initiative that redefines public spaces as inclusive, sensory-rich environments. Guided by the principles of the Proximity of Care Design Guide, this project prioritizes child- and family-friendly design to better serve children, caregivers, and neurodivergent communities.
Designed as a versatile intervention, Sensing the City can be integrated into various indoor and outdoor settings, including plazas, airports, markets, hospitals, and schools—anywhere that benefits from calming, supportive spaces. The project fosters playful and social interactions, encouraging engagement, comfort, and a sense of belonging.
By reimagining urban spaces as nurturing environments, Sensing the City promotes sensory exploration, emotional well-being, and inclusive public life. It provides safe and stimulating spaces essential for childhood development while strengthening community resilience.
Inclusive Design: A Multi-Sensory Approach
“Sensing the City” is designed to invite exploration and interaction, promoting inclusion and accessibility. Key components of the project include:
- Tactile and visual communication devices: Interactive tools encourage engagement across different abilities, introducing children to sign language and diverse communication methods.
- Specialized furniture: Custom-designed elements facilitate face-to-face interactions, promoting the use of lip-reading and sign language while supporting diverse communication needs.
- Safe mobility: Child-friendly navigation and movement are central, ensuring all children and caregivers can engage with the space comfortably and securely.
- Interactive play and sensory exploration: From soundscapes to textured surfaces, the environment stimulates cognitive and sensory development while encouraging imaginative play.
Sensing the City aims to create a world of care and protection rooted in the divergences and possibilities offered by the sensory world. This approach fosters an environment where children can experience a sense of safety, nurturing, and creativity, encouraging free play and exploration.
The project raises awareness about the needs of underserved communities, fostering urban design that reflects diversity and inclusivity.
Stimulating the Senses
Sensing the City explores sensory-rich elements that stimulate the senses and introduce new ways of learning through play. It encourages interactive engagement, fostering curiosity and discovery in diverse urban environments:
Exploring textures and materials: Natural and varied textures engage children’s tactile senses, fostering curiosity and enhancing motor skills. Materials such as untreated wood, sand, and stone connect children with the natural world, while offering opportunities for hands-on learning.
Play of light and shadows: Dynamic light patterns created through skylights and perforated walls captivate children’s attention, promoting visual learning and spatial awareness. Interactive lighting adds an element of discovery, enhancing the sensory experience.
Use of colors and shapes: Vibrant, balanced colors combined with organic shapes inspire creativity and imaginative play. These elements are carefully designed to energize without overwhelming, supporting emotional and cognitive development.
Spaces at different heights: Ramps, platforms, and stairs introduce layers of exploration, encouraging physical activity while building spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. These multi-level environments promote both physical and cognitive growth.
Integration of sounds and interactive elements: Auditory features such as chimes, creaky floors, and water sounds stimulate curiosity and learning. These elements foster social interaction, collaborative play, and auditory awareness in an engaging and nurturing way.
Aroma and vegetation: Sensory gardens with aromatic plants like lavender and rosemary connect children with nature, fostering environmental awareness and reducing stress. These living spaces offer a dynamic, ever-changing environment for exploration and learning.
Links and sources:
Website: www.espacioludico.org
Report: Sensing the city – DESIGN.pdf
Other projects: Sensing the city
