Minda Masterplan Development

Why: Creating communities that are genuinely inclusive of people with intellectual disability requires critical reflection on how design shapes belonging, safety, and participation. Public and architectural spaces are never neutral; the choices made in their design can empower some people while unintentionally excluding others. This project responds to the need to rethink what ‘inclusion’ means in practice, and how the built environment can actively support dignity, agency, and community life for people with intellectual disability.

What: We have worked with Minda Inc for a number of years to explore the concept of creating a vibrant and safe community that is inclusive of people with intellectual disability. We developed this research into an architectural design studio brief that was undertaken by second year architecture students, then exhibited on site. The project has explored public space and architectural space as a political instrument, problematising the notion of ‘inclusive’ to explore how design choices simultaneously include and exclude. The work generated critical insights to inform future planning, design, and community engagement at Minda.