midterm submission

How can nurturing spaces help support people with depression?

In today’s western society the occurrence of stress among the general population is becoming increasingly prevalent. In relation to this phenomenon, prolonged exposure to stress is resulting in the increased onset of both biological and psychological mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Statistics show that around half of the people suffering from mental illness are not receiving any help. There are many documented reasons for this disparity. Unfortunately, as stress is becoming more and more accepted in today’s productive society, many people are unable to differentiate between ‘common’ stress and more serious stress related mental illness. On the other hand, many depression sufferers are aware of their disease, but fall victim to the negative stigma associated with mental illness, which in many cases is enough to inhibit people to seek help. The downside for those people seeking help is that often the first means of treatment for mental illness diagnosis is ‘quick fix’ prescriptive medication that deals with the symptoms of the illness but does not address the bigger picture. This thesis will investigate how space can have a nurturing affect on people that are suffering from mental illness, particularly depression. The context of these nurturing spaces will be free drop in counseling centers dislocated from the stigmated grasp of society that offer support, therapy and friendship to those persons affected by depression. The aim for these nurturing environments is to support depression sufferers in their personal process of dealing with their illness in a more homely, casual, secure and natural environment.

mindmaps

fundamental key questions and line of process - see below for more detailed mindmap illustrating the same as above








idea of nature assisting in the nurturing affect for people with mental illness

bibliography

images


"society is where everyone hides their real character then reveals it by hiding" one tree high


prescriptive medication - 'the quick fix'


feeling misunderstood, alone and ashamed are identifiable symptoms of people with depression and anxiety


social conformity that governs fear in people to address their mental illness.


mental illness - seeing yourself in the reflectional view of societies stigmas.


we have to stop treating people as patients and start to place more value on treating people as individuals.


fear of alienation or judgment from society for having a mental illness.


tea houses in japan, interesting precedent studies for spaces of tranquility


ibid


maggie's centre, drop in centre for people with cancer, frank gehry


previous research topic in ecotherapy that I feel can apply to this field of research


ibid



books
Alexander, C. (1977) A Pattern Language, Oxford University Press, London

Bachelard, G. (1994) The Poetics of Space, Beacon Press, Boston

Bohm, D. (1996) On Creativity, Routledge Classics, London

Day, C. (2004) Place of the Soul - Architecture and Environmental Design as a Healing Art (2nd ed) Architectural Press, London

Honore, C. (2005) In Praise of Slow - How a Worldwide Movement is Changing the Cult of Speed, Orion Books, London

Pallasma, J. (2001) in the book - Aesthetics, Well-being and Health Essays within Architecture and Environmental Aesthetics, Ashgate Publishing Company, England

Papanek, V. (1997) Design for the Real World, Human Ecology and Social Change (2nd ed.) Thames and Hudson, India

Suzuki, D (1993) Zen and Japanese Culture, Mythos, USA

Tanazaki, J. (2001) In Praise of Shadows, Vintage Press, London


films/documentaries
- Alice in Wonderland, Disney Classic (book by Louis Carroll)
- The Matrix (Directed by Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, 1999)
- The Perfect Home, Alain de Botton, Documentary BBC (2004)


organisations
- beyond blue mental health organisation
- maggie's cancer centre
- the limelight foundation

architectural inspiration - places of interest to the topic both spatially and symbolically

houses
- Aalvar Aalto, Villa Mairea, Noormarkku **
- Aalvar Aalto, Summerhouse, Muuratsalo
- Tadao Ando, Rokko Housing, Kobe
**



cemeteries
- Carlo Scarpa, Brion Vega Cemetery, Treviso **
- Lewerentz and Asplund, Woodland Cemetery, Stockholm
**



health and wellbeing centres
- Peter Zumthor, Thermal Baths, Vals
- Mario Botta, Wellness Centre, Arosa **
- Aalvar Aalto, Paimio Sanatorium, Paimio
- Aldo van Eyck, Orphanage, Amsterdam
- Tadao Ando, Unesco Meditation Space, Paris
**



monasteries/convents
- Le Corbusier, The Monastery of Sainte-Marie de la Tourette, Eveux **
- Mario Botta, Capuchin Convent, Lugano
**


churches
- Lewerentz, St Peters Church, Klippan **
- Le Corbusier, Chapel at Ronchamp
- Tadao Ando, Church on the Water, Tomamu
- Tadao Ando, Church of Light, Osaka
**



banks
- Carlo Scarpa, Banca Popolare di Verona **
- Alberts and Van Huut, ING Head Quarters, Amsterdam
**



libraries
- Asplund, Stockholm Municipality Library **
- Aalvar Alto, Viipuri Library, USSR
**


tea houses
- Arata Isozaki, Ujian, So-An, Tokyo **
- Tadao Ando, Soseikan Tea House, Hyogo Prefecture
- Arata Isozaki, Gunma Museum of Fine Arts, Takasaki
**


museums
- Carlo Scarpa, Museo di Castelvecchio, Verona
- Tate and Tate Modern Museums, London
**

people research plan

I have plans to get on board two specific authorities to work with in relation to the needs of people that have mental illness as well as an architectural theoretician that specialises in healing spaces. These authorities are Bernie Byrne (Centre Head, Maggie's London) Juhani Pallassma (Finland). I hope to meet with Bernie in London the following Friday and Juhani in Finland in December (although I will be contacting him first). In the possible event that Juhani is too busy to work with me on this project, I will also be contacting Kim Dovey, Melbourne University (architect and theoretician on phenomenology in architecture) as well as Andrew Macklin University of New South Wales (Architect and Professor in Experiential Architecture). I hope to have continued contact and feedback with these main authorities throughout the entirety of this project as well as constant contact with people with depression or anxiety.