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Interdisciplinary design studio
led by Sasha Topolnytska
in New York City
New York City, NY, USA
2021 - Ongoing
Winner, Design Trust for Public Space RFP “The Restorative City: Building Community Wellness Through Public Space”
In collaboration with WIP Collaborative & Verona Carpenter
Media: The Architect’s Newspaper, Bloomberg
Design
Research, co-creative process, community engagement, social justice, advocacy, design of the public realm
The Neurodiverse City is a research and design initiative, developed in partnership with neurodivergent self-advocates from AHRC NYC, that reimagines New York City’s public spaces to better support neurodiversity.
Working in collaboration with WIP Collaborative and Verona Carpenter Architects, this multi-year, phased initiative examined existing public spaces—including playgrounds, streetscapes, and pocket parks—and developed prototype design interventions to make them more sensory-friendly. The project also proposed new guidelines to support a broader range of physical, emotional, and neurological differences in the public realm.
While New York is a neurodiverse city, its public spaces do not yet fully support the varied physical, neurological, and emotional needs of its residents. In the wake of the isolation and trauma of the pandemic, city spaces must offer inclusive zones where people, including those with invisible disabilities and sensory sensitivities, can come together and find restorative common ground.
Through a research and co-creation process with local communities, the project explored how public space can better respond to sensory differences and support more inclusive forms of gathering, movement, and rest.
Explore the final publication released in May 2026 here.