This is just an idea for the context of the design proposal. After reading "exploration #6: the uncanny in Mark Z. Danielewski's 'house of leaves'" by Nele Bemong I notice a similarity between being blind and the "Unheimlich" (at least in my eyes, I don't know if someone who is blind agrees with me?). The text reminded me of the changing character of the house in the book. It started out as a haunted house, intruding in the lives of the Navidson's (the main characters in the book). But coming to the end of the book the house changed, it became not the enemy but almost something godlike. This changing was linked with the mental state of the navidson's and after being almost destroyed by the 'unheimlich' they understand it, accepted it and accepted their own mental state and therefor changing the house to the 'heimlich' again. This accepting and therefor changing the 'unheimlich' into the 'heimlich' sounds to me as a metaphor for being blind, and accepting that. I can understand that being blind turns even the simplest house into a maze giving it a 'unheimlich' feeling. After understanding and accepting that your blind this maze can become a simple house again, forming a 'heimlich' feeling. Ok, this only applies for people who turn blind later on in there lives, because they're not accustomed with there other senses yet, but it can be a concept for the institute.
You can read this essay about "house of leaves" here. And also start reading the book if you didn't do this already!!!
