While every special needs facility requires unique designelements and amenities to properly service the needs of itsinhabitants, architects should take into account the following fourfundamental elements: psychological, social, maintenance andeconomic design factors.

The first thing to consider when designing special needs housingis the psychological element, or creating a space that isappealing, interesting and provides residents with an enjoyablequality of life. Architects must design space that is motivatingand positive to make sure that the home is still where a personwith special needs feels comfortable and at ease. For example,windows, interesting angles and textures can be used to help createspaces that stimulate and encourage residents and do not take awayfrom the functionality of the space.

Next, as individuals with special needs often live alone andfeel isolated from social gatherings, architects need to factor ina social element to their design plans in order to create a spacethat fosters interaction among residents. To accomplish this, spacemust be created to promote communication between residents so thatthey may encounter each other on a more frequent basis. To start,architects should focus on the following three areas of a building:the entry door, mailbox area and laundry room. In addition,architects must be especially sensitive to color and the need fornatural light. Increasing the effectiveness of both does notrequire the expenditure of large amounts of money, but rather anunderstanding of color's power as a critical mood enhancer. No onepalette should triumph, as color follows function. In interactivespaces, for example, colors should have intensity and becomplemented by active patterns.