Presenting Interior Design Principles and Essentials based on the Perceptions of the Blind and Visually Impaired

The review of the literature related to architecture for blind and visually impaired people shows that despite the need for architectural standards and principles to design appropriate spaces for this group of people, no attention has been paid to this issue, especially in the field of interior design. In fact, architecture has always been a combination of knowledge and art with the purpose of creating a vision-based environment. Findings show that although the blind and visually impaired are deprived of vision among five senses, and are not able to perceive the world like others, they can communicate with the world around them relying on other senses. They should perceive their surrounding environment using other sensors (such as ears, nose, and other sensuous information like the direction of wind and sound, humidity, temperature, etc.). In other words, blindness is either disability or desperation, but not a limitation. It should not be denied that blindness poses some serious limitations on the person, but instead, he/she possesses some other capabilities which can be helpful in continuing a healthy life. Thus, raising such an issue that perception of the environment is impossible for the blind is an oversimplified idea, and designing architectural spaces for these people is of outmost importance. In addition to observing the architectural principles and standards which are necessary for an appropriate design according to their specific form of understanding and perception of the world, attention should also be paid to their emotional needs and comfort. It is essential that designers change their views towards the needs of the blind and visually impaired, develop an appropriate outlook regarding their problems and necessities, and present their work in a way that provides the possibility for their daily life activities along with others, so that all users can enjoy the facilities of a building without any need for help. Therefore, understanding and analysis of specific behaviors of the blind and visually impaired along with their needs and memories, and implementing the result of these analyses will improve the quality of designing interior and architectural spaces. These buildings with their various atmospheres have emancipated architecture from its superficial modern appearance, and have directed it toward its true meaning which is a humane issue in harmony with humans’ needs. So the aim of this study is the analysis of interior spaces according to perceptions and disabilities of blind or visually impaired adults and children. The methodology of this research is based on logical reasoning, which at the first step presents a definition of blindness, and introduces blind and visually impaired people; then it concerns with their perception of space. After investigating the influential elements on the quality of interior design and taking the current challenges in each aspect into account, this study tries to suggest a solution for each element in order to enhance the process of interior design for the blind. Taking these patterns and solutions into account can improve the quality of interior design for the blind.