Design for Non-binary Youth

Abstract

We often design environments to meet gender-specific requirements, whether due to religious, cultural or lifestyle needs, but how do you navigate buildings when you are mis-gendered, non-binary or unsure of your gender identity? What barriers do we intrinsically create in architecture by applying gender to places and how do we shift this to focus on inclusivity. In working with the Youth Participation and Engagement Team at Orygen in a consultative design process for the Orygen Building in Australia, the facility architects came to understand that one of the biggest issues of concern for young people was the inclusion of design for the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly in relation to gender and sexual orientation. Standard design solutions for amenities can become continually confrontational for these groups, but is it as easy as making them all gender neutral? And in what other ways do we subconsciously exclude them? The Orygen project is used as a case study in the review of gender-inclusive spaces, as it sought to provide environments for youth who seek assistance for Mental Health issues. In studying this project, we understand that we cannot design spaces for non-binary or mis-gendered people solely based on historical information and research. The multitude of current issues can only be understood by direct engagement and including these people in the design process. The paper reviews the issues of gender inclusivity and gender neutrality and the importance of inclusion with the design and consultation process.