Tredu Student Unveils Sensory-Sensitive Apartments for Dementia and Autism at Lempäälä Housing Fair

According to ePressi, Ella Heiskanen, an interior design student at Tredu, will present sensory-sensitive interior solutions she developed for Lempäälän Vuokrakodit at the Lempäälä Housing Fair.

Heiskanen worked on the Saikan portti building during her apprenticeship at Lempäälän Vuokrakodit, preparing room cards, resident profiles and staged layouts. The assignment was unusually broad for a first-year student. The work continues into the summer as a paid role, and Heiskanen will guide fair visitors through the apartments.

The project tackles wider social themes such as dementia and the autism spectrum. "Sensory sensitivity has been considered in the design by minimizing noise and overwhelming stimuli. In spatial planning and materials we focused on acoustics, varied surface choices and textures that support a calm sensory experience. Scents and fragrant plants are avoided in the apartments," Heiskanen said.

Design measures for a young person on the autism spectrum include acoustic panels to dampen sound, non-adjacent sibling bedrooms and a balcony arranged as a nest-like quiet retreat. Memory-friendly flats rely on clarity, high-contrast cues and practical everyday solutions intended to support residents’ independence. Students involved in the project will be available for interviews during the fair.

Tredu has previously presented student-built work at the same event, including a student-built Aurora show home that debuted at the Lempäälä Housing Fair earlier this spring. The Lempäälä Housing Fair runs 10 July–9 August and is expected to attract large visitor numbers this summer the fair's schedule and attendance estimates.