Architecture student in Northern Virginia embraces deaf community in design and in life

I'm doing my master's thesis on deaf architecture, and it's based on Hansel Bauman's Deaf Space Guidelines. You can see how the atrium cutout is shaped. These little pockets create space for you to continue a conversation while being outside of traffic. With deaf people, when they sign, they can't sign when they have things in their hands. So they have to put either their drink or their phone. Their bag, they have to put it down somewhere. So when I'm designing, I have to think about designing with many ledges around the building or tables so that they can set their things down and have a conversation. One of Hansel Bauman's Deaf Space principles involves having soft intersections so that you're able to see ahead of you to avoid collision. When one person is signing, everyone is looking at that one person. This means that you need to have round tables instead of rectangular tables. All classrooms need to have U shaped seating instead of the standard rows of seating. When I chose my thesis topic, I knew it wouldn't be a typical journey. I wanted to dig deep into the architectural world, but I also knew I needed to step outside of my comfort zone to truly understand the community I was designing for. That's when I made the decision to learn ASL through Gallaudet's ASL Connect program. It wasn't just about mastering a new language, it was about bridging the gap between my understanding and the lived experiences of the deaf community. I listened to their stories, their struggles, their victories. It was an education, unlike any other, It was a journey of empathy and understanding. Through their eyes, I saw the world in a new light. I understood their nuances that no amount of research or book could ever teach me. In the end, my thesis isn't just about the architecture, but it's about the people. It's about creating spaces that resonate with the multisensory richness of the human experience. Thank you to the deaf and hard of hearing community for teaching me. Guiding me. Inspiring me. Every step of the way.