Researchers and designers each developed a particular vision on autism-friendly architecture.Because the basis of this vision is not always clear, questions arise about its meaning and value, and about how it can be put to use. People with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum are central to these questions, yet risk to disappear from the picture. Refocusing the discourse about autism-friendly architecture on them is the aim of the explorative study reported here. Six autobiographies written by autistic (young) adults were analysed from two different viewpoints. First, concepts from design guidelines concerning autism-friendly architecture were confronted with fragments from these autobiographies. The second part of the analysis started from the autobiographies themselves. This analysis shows that concepts can be interpreted in multiple ways. They can reinforce but also counteract each other, thus asking for critical judgment. An open space is preferred by some autistic people because it affords having an overview, which increases predictability, and distancing oneself from others without being isolated. Others might like this space to be subdivided into several separate spaces which affords a sense of structure or reduces sensory inputs present in one room.The six autobiographies provide a glimpse of autistic people's world of experience. Analysing these is a first step in revealing what architecture can actually mean from their point of view. For them, the material environment has a prominent meaning that is, however, not always reducible to design guidelines. It offers them something to hold on to, relate to or structure their reality.

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In recent years, the design community has witnessed the development of several design approaches aimed at taking into account the diversity of human abilities and conditions during design. One of these approaches is inclusive design, used here as an umbrella term to cover also universal design and design for all. This article addresses some of the common questions that arise when inclusive design is considered in relation to the built environment. It discusses how inclusive design is defined and interpreted, what its relevance, implications and challenges are in relation to the built environment, how it relates to other significant design issues, and how it can be fostered in the future. This introduction to the idea of inclusive design is of interest to built environment professionals and researchers seeking a more holistic approach to the built environment. Foregrounding the diversity in human interactions with the built environment supports reflection on the human impact of design decisions. By offering diverse spatial qualities and use opportunities, inclusive design has the potential to help addressing the challenges of our diverse and ageing society in a sustainable way.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of the physical environment at a newly built stroke unit. Background: For a person who survives a stroke, life can change dramatically. The physical environment is essential for patients’ health and well-being. To reduce infections, a majority of new healthcare facilities mainly have a single-room design. However, in the context of stroke care, knowledge of how patients experience the physical environment, particularly their experience of a single-room design, is scarce. Method: This study used a qualitative design. Patients ( n = 16) participated in semistructured individual interviews. Data were collected in December 2015 and February 2017 in Sweden; interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. Results: Two main themes were identified: (i) incongruence exists between community and privacy and (ii) connectedness with the outside world provides distraction and a sense of normality. In single rooms, social support was absent and a sense of loneliness was expressed. Patients were positively distracted when they looked at nature or activities that went on outside their windows. Conclusions: The physical environment is significant for patients with stroke. This study highlights potential areas for architectural improvements in stroke units, primarily around designing communal areas with meeting places and providing opportunities to participate in the world outside the unit. A future challenge is to design stroke units that support both community and privacy. Exploring patients’ experiences could be a starting point when designing new healthcare environments and inform evidence-based design.