Vision Australia

A beautifully practical space for tactile sensory experiences

Vision Australia

Kooyong, VIC

2018

5,500sqm

Hot Black acknowledges the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, on whose land we meet, share and work.

Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and Australia's largest provider of services for people with blindness and low vision

Hot Black’s Architectural, Interiors and Graphics team developed an intricate understanding of sensory design and innovation, appreciating that a large percentage of staff were visually impaired at a multitude of different levels.

Embracing the user experience, the workshop and briefing strategy entailed a deep series of activities to step in the shoes of the sensory experience that needed to be applied to the workplace.

Key learnings through detailed immersion sessions shed light on the varying requirements that the space required. A tactile approach was identified as significant importance to those that would use the space – not only relying on touch, but also; acoustics, colour contrast, organic forms and a flooring approach that used materiality transitions to meet the needs and to offer a safe and easy way to navigate space. In turn, it allowed us to reinvent what an ‘agile workplace’ was for the staff.

The site is not only home to a large workforce, but is also a place often frequented by volunteers, corporate organisations and varying groups to enable learnings and support to the wider visually impaired public. A training facility, retail space, café, children’s library, adult learning centre/art space and a fully equipped teaching kitchen help support what this foundation has to offer.

Hot Black acknowledges the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, on whose land we meet, share and work.

A beautifully practical space for tactile sensory experiences

Hot Black’s Architectural, Interiors and Identity design teams had to develop an intricate understanding of sensory design and innovation, appreciating that a large percentage of staff were visually impaired.

The design solution encompassed many facets of assistance throughout the space. It was imperative that we took into consideration contrasting colours, so that it could be easily identified as to where walls and floors met, where paths of travel were and to easily identify potential objects.