An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Biophilic Landscape Patterns on the Sensory Integration of Autistic Children

Due to the rise in the number of autistic children and their different sensory and cognitive performances in comparison to normal people, this research aims to develop the criteria of suitable therapeutic landscapes for autistic children based on biophilic landscape patterns. It also attempts to examine the effect of such patterns. Framed by theories of biophilic design theorists, this study employed a mixed-methods design to investigate if biophilic landscape patterns can influence children’s senses on two spectrums of suffering namely one and three, in three functional zones outdoors. For this purpose, adaptive patterns were piloted using the experimental research method, and the effects of the patterns were evaluated by examining the senses, concentration, performance, and speech of the subjects. Some biophilic design patterns, such as visual connection with nature, presence of water, and risk/peril, could effectively improve the visual, olfactory, tactile, and vestibular senses of children of two spectrums, and such effects on the senses improved the concentrations, children’s speech and mood. However, some patterns, such as ambiguity and mystery, the light and shadow game, and changes in levels, did not have positive impacts on children. The design of the pattern needs to keep the therapeutic zone away from the sensory interference of other zones. Otherwise, children’s sensory perception will be disturbed, and the treatment will not be effective. The results of the research indicate that due to the different effectiveness of sensory stimuli on children with autism, it is not possible to generalize the patterns to normal people and use biophilic landscape patterns for therapeutic purposes with autistic children. Rather, before employing the strategies, they need to be tested first, and then the models of the therapeutic landscape suitable for affected children need to be developed. The suitable space, the environment, and the landscape for autistic children are different from the ones that can be used for non-autistic children, and autistic children need their own appropriate space.