Designing for Dignity: A New Housing Model for Autistic Adults

For many autistic adults, the housing crisis is not only about availability: it’s about fit. Traditional institutional models often overlook sensory needs, autonomy, and the desire for meaningful community connection. But an emerging typology from Montreal, the Centre Lise et Yvon Lamarre, offers a new blueprint for neuro-inclusive living.

Developed through close collaboration between architects, clinical experts, caregivers, and families, the Centre proposes a residential model designed specifically for autistic adults and their sensory needs. Its approach blends therapeutic insights with architectural innovation, aiming to reduce stress, promote independence, and support long-term well-being.

Rethinking the “Residential Unit”

Instead of long corridors lined with doors, an arrangement that can feel institutional and overwhelming, the Centre introduces “maisonnettes”: small scale, four-bedroom clusters with a shared living room and bathroom. This layout creates the familiarity and comfort of a home, not a facility. Sixteen adults now live across four maisonnettes, each connected to a shared dining area offering a range of sensory-responsive seating options, from quiet alcoves to open communal tables.

One innovative decision was eliminating any indoor corridor connecting the residential floors to the day centre below. Residents instead move outdoors between both areas, adding a predictable daily transition and a grounding relationship with natural light and fresh air.

A Sensory-Responsive Environment

The design team relied on research from Sensory Fragments, a study on neuro-inclusive

architecture recently led by Lemay, to shape each detail. Rounded corridor corners ease navigation by eliminating abrupt visual surprises. Coloured floor markers signal the atmosphere of each room ahead, helping residents prepare for what they are about to enter.

Materials were selected to calm and support the senses: warm woods, desaturated colours, and felt acoustic panels that soften sound and reduce auditory fatigue. Tactile comfort was prioritized through natural textures indoors and a sensory garden outdoors, where residents can explore soothing scents, water misters, and hands-on botanical exploration.

Practical Steps for Families and Providers

Whether you are designing a residence, adapting a home, or supporting a loved one, these principles can guide everyday improvements:

1. Establish predictable transitions. Clear circulation paths, visual cues, and consistent routines reduce stress.

2. Calm the visual field. Choose muted colours and favour natural lighting.

3. Manage acoustics. Add textiles, felt panels, or rugs to soften sound.

4. Offer varied social zones. Provide quiet nooks, small shared rooms, and open communal spaces, letting individuals choose how (and whether) to connect.

5. Integrate nature. Even a small sensory garden or balcony planter can offer grounding multisensory experiences.

The Centre Lise et Yvon Lamarre demonstrates that neuro-inclusive housing is not only possible: it’s replicable. As Catherine Lamarre of the Lamarre Foundation shares, “This model provides safety, but also the opportunity for residents to truly grow.” Her hope is to see similar projects multiply across Quebec and beyond.

For more information

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Bio: As Design Lead at Lemay, architect Bryan Marchand creates intuitive environments that ease navigation and support shared uses. He guided the Centre Lamarre’s neuro-inclusive design.