Perth Airport has officially opened Australia’s first airport Sensory Room, designed by Plus Architecture within Terminal 1 International’s Departure Lounge Area. The groundbreaking facility represents a significant step toward a more inclusive and accessible travel experience for neurodivergent passengers and their carers.
The innovative project has already garnered recognition, recently winning The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture at the 2025 WA Architecture Awards and progressing to the AIA National Awards in Melbourne on 6 November 2025.
Working closely with Perth Airport’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Group, Plus Architecture led a design process centred on community consultation. This involved engaging with nearly 600 survey respondents, including individuals with lived experience of neurodivergence, alongside their families, and carers.
Plus Architecture Director, Patric Przeradzki commented that Perth Airport and his team set out to design a space that would genuinely respond to the needs of neurodivergent travellers and carers.
“Our process was built on meaningful engagement, ensuring that the final result was shaped by lived experience rather than assumption. What makes the Sensory Room unique is its consideration not only of neurodivergent travellers of all ages, but also of their families and carers. Many sensory rooms are unintentionally child-focused. We deliberately created a space that serves everyone and their diverse needs.”
To develop a holistic space, Plus Architecture also consulted with organisations that have opened sensory rooms including Pittsburgh and Seattle Airports, as well as comparators in sports stadiums and other public venues, and integrated expertise from engineers, specialist lighting and sound architects, and accessibility specialists to learn from both successes and shortcomings elsewhere.
The 75 square metre facility incorporates three distinct zones: a welcoming lobby space with secure luggage storage, two private retreat rooms, and a central sensory area.
The Sensory Room creates a calming environment, with soft furnishings, backlit illumination, acoustically optimised padding for sound dampening, and high-back seating. Users can control their sensory experience with adjustable lighting and sound within the distinct zones.
All elements are designed with rounded corners, soothing colour palettes, and organic forms to create a cocooned, safe feeling to ensure the space supports a broad spectrum of users. A standout design element includes illuminated tactile exploration panels featuring different materials — including various textured fabrics, artificial grass, and patterned surfaces — creating a unique space for sensory-seeking individuals.
Perth Airport Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove emphasises: “We understand that travelling can be a highly stressful situation, especially for neurodivergent travellers. We’ve recognised this and wanted to provide a space that will make the process easier.
“With a focus on removing barriers for neurodivergent people, the room caters to all ages, with an emphasis on supporting decompression, in a busy airport environment.
“Perth Airport is committed to fostering an inclusive travel experience for all passengers and we believe this new sensory room is a great addition to our terminal.”
In Australia, approximately 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent, with 11.9% of the population taking on the role of unpaid carers. Strategically located in Terminal 1 International, the Sensory Room will provide a vital refuge and safe space for many travellers, in what can otherwise be an overwhelming environment.
Praising the project, the AIA Awards jury noted, “The Sensory Room is a clever response to a complex brief that will transform the travel experience for neurodivergent passengers. The considered response was the culmination of a co-design process engaging with a large stakeholder group and the wider community, masterfully conducted by the Plus team.”
Setting a precedent for inclusive design, Plus Architecture’s knowledge gained from their work on the award-winning Sensory Room will now inform the practice’s approach to accessible design across their portfolio in Australia and New Zealand.
The room is available to passengers travelling through Terminal 1 International and must be pre-booked online.
