ABSTRACT
Children's museums are exemplary for studying both adaptive architecture and inclusive design, particularly due to the diverse populations they serve and the need for ever-changing exhibits. Educators and architects both have much to gain from the educational settings and methods common in children's museums. Likewise, children's museums have, themselves, incorporated lessons learned from the research, practical experiences, and innovations of their peers. This chapter describes four lessons: promoting play for all, balancing change and continuity, enhancing therapeutic design, and encouraging autonomy. Through children's museums, one can see the capacity of architecture to invent new forms of play and learning for all members of society. A trait of many museums, especially illustrated in children's museums, is the wide variety of experiences that must be carefully curated to achieve cohesiveness. Children's museums illustrate how color, texture, lighting, acoustics, and other experiential aspects not only accommodate but also inspire diverse users and activities.
