The Humpty Bumps Buzz Machine in all its glory. I designed it for a brilliant two-year-old with near-total blindness. Each hump is a different texture for tactile mapping, LED lights for contrast, and a button that activates a vibration motor to make the whole structure buzz. And Wally loves anything that buzzes!
I designed this space in multiple phases. As Kai grew and progressed, the environment evolved and adapted with him. I tend to lean toward nature themes, especially for kids growing up in the city, and decided to go all in on this one. Now, on the 25th floor of a Manhattan apartment, exists a little oasis of mountain ranges, fluffy clouds, climbing trees, and Lego-wall bushes, creating a playland of endless possibilities.
To maximize a space and offer the widest range of movement and play opportunities, adaptability is key. On one side, we have a mountain range rock wall and on the other, interactive climbing trees and a platform/slide. In the center, is a flexible zone that transforms from a dreamy Lycra bouncy world, to a swing zone, to a crisscross of angled slack lines with overhead bungee support, offering a matrix of dynamic balance and spatial challenges. The sky's the limit. And so is Kai’s potential in his personalized sensory gym.
I designed this space in multiple phases. As Kai grew and progressed, the environment evolved and adapted with him. I tend to lean toward nature themes, especially for kids growing up in the city, and decided to go all in on this one. Now, on the 25th floor of a Manhattan apartment, exists a little oasis of mountain ranges, fluffy clouds, climbing trees, and Lego-wall bushes, creating a playland of endless possibilities.
To maximize a space and offer the widest range of movement and play opportunities, adaptability is key. On one side, we have a mountain range rock wall and on the other, interactive climbing trees and a platform/slide. In the center, is a flexible zone that transforms from a dreamy Lycra bouncy world, to a swing zone, to a crisscross of angled slack lines with overhead bungee support, offering a matrix of dynamic balance and spatial challenges. The sky's the limit. And so is Kai’s potential in his personalized sensory gym.
Luigi’s Sensory Gym is a truly customized and dynamic space designed to support movement, play, and sensory integration. Buily for a young boy with autism and visual challenges, this nature-themed gym encourages independent exploration while addressing his unique motor and spatial needs. From climbing trees to weaving up meandering sand dunes, every element fosters skill development in a fun and engaging way. Click below and come on a tour!
Let’s take a tour of Luigi’s gym and see how a space can truly support a child
I designed this sensory gym in a basement for a young boy named Luigi who has autism and also presents with motor challenges and a visual impairment. While he has functional vision, high contrast and specific colors greatly help him to navigate his environment more safely and effectively. He deeply enjoys climbing and exploring, yet many typical obstacles and environments pose challenges for him.
My goal was to create a safe and engaging play space for Luigi - one that would encourage independent movement, challenge his motor skills, and support him from both a sensory and visual perspective. Additionally, I wanted to incorporate a fun and exciting way to enhance his visual spatial skills, despite his visual impairment.
To make the space more meaningful, I decided to design it all around a nature theme. I tend to like nature themes as kids today are spending less and less time outdoors. Luigi’s parents, who are amazing and his biggest supporters, played an essential role in the process. They shared photos of playground equipment he enjoyed or showed interest in, which served as inspiration for some of the gym’s features. The result? A super fun curated space that he absolutely loves!
The features of Luigi’s gym:
A few examples of the types of features I design:
My goal was to create a safe and engaging play space for Luigi - one that would encourage independent movement, challenge his motor skills, and support him from both a sensory and visual perspective. Additionally, I wanted to incorporate a fun and exciting way to enhance his visual spatial skills, despite his visual impairment.
To make the space more meaningful, I decided to design it all around a nature theme. I tend to like nature themes as kids today are spending less and less time outdoors. Luigi’s parents, who are amazing and his biggest supporters, played an essential role in the process. They shared photos of playground equipment he enjoyed or showed interest in, which served as inspiration for some of the gym’s features. The result? A super fun curated space that he absolutely loves!
The features of Luigi’s gym:
A few examples of the types of features I design:
