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Dedicated calm or quiet rooms in public spaces are usually private, on-demand spaces for those in need. Situated in a modern art museum, the Calm Room at National Gallery Singapore(Gallery) is unique because it is open to everyone, with priority access given to visitors who urgently need it.

30 potential users provided feedback on design of the space through surveys, focus group discussions and user testing of the room’s materiality using sensory probe kits. To ensure buy-in, the final design was implemented alongside training of visitor-facing staff and whole-of-organisation briefings. Engagement with community partners informed the brand identity and messaging, validating the decision to make the Calm Room an inclusive space for all visitors.

Since opening in 2022, the Calm Room has served over 45,000 visitors and hosted one Creative Residency. Key learnings include the significance of collaboration with community partners and application of universal design when integrating care functions into the museum. Sustaining the Calm Room also demands a culturally nuanced approach to generate organisational buy-in and build public awareness in neurodiversity, access and inclusion-concepts that are nascent in this part of the world. Navigating sensitivities around invisible disabilities and accommodating the diversity of access needs have contributed to continuous learning and operational improvement.

Despite the challenges, an open-to-all Calm Room can play an essential part in the museum visitor experience. The Calm Room as a case study is inspiring the Gallery to pursue future research that reimagines public spaces in museums through framework of design and care.