School for Autistic Children Designed as Enclosed Garden in Belgium

In Belgium, LOW Architecten has finalized the Maria Assumpta Instituut, a school tailored for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This 3,500 m² facility, which was completed in 2025, innovatively reimagines the educational setting by aligning spatial design with pedagogical requirements. Instead of individual structures, all activities are arranged around a secure central courtyard, drawing inspiration from the medieval hortus conclusus (enclosed garden) to foster a safe, understandable, and soothing atmosphere. This courtyard serves as the central social and spatial hub of the campus. Leading the project are architects Tom Hindryckx and Stijn Cockx, with contributions from 2B-Safe for engineering, Landscale for landscape architecture, and Fonseca for acoustic consulting.