In a move towards more inclusive experiences for neurodiverse travellers and their carers, Perth Airport has officially opened its sensory room, designed by Plus Studio.

Navigating the bustling airport experience – and the unpredictable PA announcements, glaring fluorescent lights and complicated procedures associated with it – can prove overwhelming for neurodivergent people sensitive to sensory stimulation.

Designed by Plus Studio, a new sensory room located within Perth Airport’s Terminal 1 International departures aims to offer reprieve and decompression for neurodiverse travellers and their carers.

“We understand that travelling can be a highly stressful situation, especially for neurodivergent travellers,” Perth Airport chief commercial and aviation officer Kate Holsgrove says. “We’ve recognised this and wanted to provide a space that will make the process easier.”

Community engagement central to the design process

Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. According to Monash Health, one in eight Australians is neurodivergent.

Plus sought to engage this user group in the design process for Perth Airport’s new sensory room. Working closely with the airport’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Group, the designers engaged with nearly 600 survey respondents, including individuals with lived experience of neurodivergence, alongside their families and carers.

Plus Studio director Patric Przeradzki says consulting with this cross-section of the community was essential to ensuring the space met all of their needs.

“The idea was that it would be inviting,” he tells Australian Design Review. “It would make you feel respected and valued.”

Non-confrontational sightlines and private spaces

The 75-square-metre sensory room features three separate zones: an inviting lobby space with secure luggage storage, two private retreat rooms and a central sensory area.

Przeradzki says the design’s spatial programming considered the spectrum of sensory needs – from “seekers” to “avoiders”. For example, non-confrontational sightlines and private spaces provide users the ability to “hide” and decompress. Without using eye contact, they can enter and work out very quickly which spaces are occupied.

Natural and soft finishes

Plus Studio also drew on insights from sensory rooms in Pittsburgh and Seattle airports in the US.

Incorporating Pittsburgh’s use of textured wall finishes and adapting Seattle’s approach to designing within tight space constraints, Perth Airport’s sensory room creates a calming environment for its users.

The space features illuminated tactile panels with various textured materials, which aim to provide moments for sensory exploration.

When considering colour palette and materials, Przeradzki says their goal was to avoid conjuring an “institutional design palette”. Opting for natural timbers and softer textures, Plus tested these palettes during open days and gathered feedback from the community to mould the final design. The result is a continuous, corner-free space with soft, “safe” materials that feel supportive for neurodiverse individuals and their families.

Intentionally quiet

Featuring sound-dampening surfaces and adjustable lighting and sound within distinct zones, the space offers a moment for users to control their experience in the busy airport environment.

The sensory room prioritises quiet, with no flight announcements except in emergencies and a limited user capacity.

Garnering positive recognition

Perth Airport’s sensory room was recently shortlisted for The Mark Robinson Community Award at the 2025 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA).

Plus also won The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture at the 2025 WA Architecture Awards and has progressed to the AIA National Awards, which will be announced in Melbourne on 6 November 2025.

Przeradzki says “ engaging with stakeholders and listening to them” is key to paving the way for inclusive design.

“With inclusive design, it starts with seeing things through the eyes of others – or trying to see them – and you can’t do that unless people explain to you how they see the world,” he says.

Project photography by Nicholas Putrasia. Other photography supplied.

Related: Dr Ilianna Ginnis hopes to redefine the architecture and design industry’s approach to neuro-inclusivity.