AUC Professor Magda Mostafa Honored with Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Award for Research on Autism-Inclusive Designs

Magda Mostafa, associate professor in the Department of Architecture at The American University in Cairo (AUC), has been honored with a Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Award from the International Union of Architects (UIA) for her Autism-Friendly University Design Guide.  

Mostafa’s guide aims to support students and staff on the autism spectrum through many avenues, including raising awareness and acceptance, adapting university environments and building initiatives that encourage autistic community members to engage in every aspect of university life. This project was a response to a global call for proposals in 2020 from Dublin City University (DCU) and Ireland’s National Autism Society (AsIAM). “I was honored to be selected for this pioneering work, primarily because it was informed and led by autistic students, advocates and leaders at DCU and AsIAM,” stated Mostafa. 

An international jury recognized Mostafa with the award, stating: “This research has excellent methodology and application. It covers a wide range of design for senses and environmental conditions and results in a set of manageable guidelines.”

The UIA Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards were established to promote inspiring buildings and sites that have created socially sustainable environments through high quality architectural design. A special award is also given for evidence-based design research that makes a significant contribution to improved quality of life through facilitating a better understanding of human-centred design and its application to the design of the built environment.

Described by ArchDaily as “a pioneer” and one of “the world’s pre-eminent researchers” in autism design, Mostafa is author of the Autism ASPECTSS™ Design Index, which was published in 2013. The index is the world’s first evidence-based set of design guidelines outlining seven architectural criteria to help individuals with autism interact more effectively with their built environments. She also published a first-of-its-kind design guide for the world's first autism-friendly university. Originally commissioned by Dublin City University, the guide is replicable across other universities and entities.

Mostafa’s most recent work is currently on display at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale. Titled “A Case for Sensory Decolonization: Autistic Escape,” her immersive and interactive project argues that our cities have become colonized by sensory overload that, “if left uncurated, can be a barrier to the inclusion of autistic bodies in these spaces and discourage their safe, accessible and equitable participation in the everyday lives of our cities.”