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A Therapeutic Community: Rethinking the Mental Health Rehabilitation Model

Part 2 Project 2014
Rachel Slater
Krystyna Griffiths
 University of Liverpool | UK
In recognising the poor quality of institutional environments that prevail in the provision of mental healthcare this thesis questions how the design of mental health rehabilitation environments can be improved to promote mental wellbeing.

This thesis was prompted by our Masters dissertations which explored therapeutic design in healthcare facilities and multi-sensory design from a visually impaired perspective, focusing on methods of improving the quality of life for significant, and increasing, portions of society. Combining the knowledge gained from these studies with the desire to understand how the design and sensory experience of architectural space can affect the behaviour and wellbeing of its occupants, this thesis concentrates on the effects on mental health.

The proposal is a new urban typology for mental health rehabilitation which focuses on the multi-sensory and therapeutic qualities of architecture to stimulate psychological, social and physical recovery. The centre acts as a stepping stone to assist transition back into society for young adults leaving psychiatric care. It aims to encourage independence, the learning of new skills and the provision of appropriate support to restore users’ personal and professional identities.

Contrasting the traditional rural model, this proposal seeks to bring the positive natural aspects of the rural environment into the urban environment, providing an oasis which people can visit to rebalance their lives. The proposal regenerates existing buildings integrating itself into the urban fabric whilst retaining familiarity for its occupants. The centre consists of a sequence of contrasting spatial experiences for rehabilitation, relaxation and reflection to accommodate, and respond to, the users needs and functional requirements.

The urban location and design of the centre enables families to engage with the rehabilitation of family members, whether in-patient or out-patient. Those requiring mental healthcare will be able to feel part of society whilst undergoing rehabilitation, rather than being excluded from it, as is the case currently. Re-engineering of mental healthcare provision in the heart of the community will not only improve outcomes for users of the service, it will serve to raise public awareness of mental health to relieve political and social tensions surrounding mental illness in society.

Rachel Slater
Krystyna Griffiths
2014
Inspiration image: capturing the aims and essence of the thesis.
The issue of mental illness: Statistics and news reports highlighting the prevalence of, the inappropriate care for, and the poor quality environments associated with mental illness.
Current journey through the mental health system: this drawing captures feelings of isolation, surveillance, vulnerability, lack of identity and inappropriate care whilst also highlighting the gaps of ‘prevention’ and ‘recovery’ in the current model.
Current vs. future model: how can the design of mental health recovery environments be improved to promote mental wellbeing?
Development: critical analysis of the spaces and the overall scheme through diagrams and physical modelling.
Context: the proposal sits quietly in its context, is sympathetic to its surroundings, and presents itself boldly to the street in order to raise awareness about mental health.
User experience: the centre integrates the public, drop-in users, residents, visitors and staff with different levels of control and privacy to generate meaningful relationships and raise awareness about mental health.
Arrival sequence: the proposal allows users time to compose themselves before entering the centre. The social space is flooded with natural light offering views to the surrounding gardens and activities. It balances open spaces with more intimate spaces t
Distinctive spaces: the centre consists of a sequence of contrasting spatial experiences which are recognisable by people in an unstable mental state.
Perspective section: illustrating the different scales and characters of the spaces and gardens.
Bedroom: the layout is legible upon entry, the floor surfaces distinguishing between different areas of the room, and offering immediate views of nature, the surrounding context and the rehabilitation centre.
Landscaping: the gardens act as buffers between spaces, knitting together the different buildings, creating intermediate spaces to be enjoyed to encourage interaction and allow time for retreat, relaxation and reflection.
Healthy environment: the proposal utilises passive design strategies to achieve optimal lighting, ventilation, heating and acoustic conditions.
Materiality: The palette of materials used enable a coherent strategy to be adopted, remaining true to the material properties in each case, to reduce perceptual distortion and ambiguity whilst creating calming, comfortable and stimulating environments.
Structural strategy: illustrates the detailed design of supporting and reusing existing structures as well as inserting lightwells to maximise natural light.
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