LUXURY LIVING
According to Harvard Health Publishing, 15-20 % of the global population is neurodivergent. When this is considered alongside sensory threshold research from Dr Annemarie Lombard, founder of Sensory Intelligence, the picture sharpens: people do not experience space in one uniform way.
The key tool is a Sensory Matrix Report, which offers insight into an individual’ s sensory profile, including how they respond to stimuli and how this affects their productivity, health, and relationships.
In architectural terms, that means designing for all the senses, not just sight. VELD uses sensory data to make decisions about light, texture, sound, and scent. The goal is to support self-regulation, rather than demand it from the occupant.“ We are exploring how to integrate sensory intelligence into our built environments,” says Gillian Holl, founder and principal architect of VELD.“ The goal is to move away from profit-driven isolation to human-centred flourishing.”
Much architecture serves the sensory neutrals. VELD Architects is flipping that assumption on its head. And a Cape Winelands estate is its clearest statement yet.
BEYOND THE VISUAL Set on historically significant land within a working wine farm, the project is embedded in a landscape shaped by long-standing agricultural practices, open fields, defined edges, and measured rhythms.
The architectural language is rooted in Cape Dutch traditions, but through a contemporary reinterpretation. Principles such as hierarchy, symmetry, and a pronounced central entrance inform the design, while gabled forms mark significant spaces and a strong central axis provides clarity and orientation. But what makes this project genuinely different is not visible in a single photograph. It is how the spaces feel.
VELD collaborated with Dr Lombard, founder of Sensory Intelligence and an occupational therapist, and Renée de Waal, founder of Xperiencemakers, which specialises in neuro design integration, to move beyond standard wellness language.
SPACES FOR DIFFERENT SENSORY NEEDS This estate is designed to accommodate individuals across the sensory spectrum: seekers, avoiders, and those in between. The building is organised into three primary spatial conditions:
• Adaptive spaces are responsive environments where users choose their level of engagement. Main living areas form the heart of the home, balancing stimulation and retreat. Elements like window benches provide a cocooned sense of enclosure while maintaining access to natural light and views.
• Gentle spaces are protective, low-stimulus environments designed for sensory avoiders. Positioned in more secluded areas of the site, often screened or partially enclosed, these
JUNE 2026 / INBOUND SA 39