abstract revision [3]

How can the qualities of nurturing space have a positive affect on ones depressive mental state?

In 1550 BC in the oldest medical journal ever discovered, the Ancient Egyptians described what we know today as depression. Over three and a half thousand years later and depression affects internationally around 121 million people and rising. This indicates that we have not learnt adequate treatment methods from the times of our brothers of antiquity. This thesis will investigate a new typology of treatment for people affected by depression for today’s western society. Nurturing spaces that offers refuge, support, therapy and friendship in a homely, casual, secure and natural environment. This thesis will explore five broad concepts of nurturing space to identify specific nurturing qualities to utilise in the design process. These include; homeliness, atmospheres, place, volumes and materiality. These aspects will be explored through theoretical research in addition to identifying correlations in both interviews with people about personalised qualitative spaces, as well as observations in existing architectural structures that offer valuable input to these qualities. Through the amalgamation of these findings in addition to my personal creative input, the design of these nurturing spaces should add an unprecedented contribution to the treatment of depression that could not only address the rising number of people affected by the illness today but, could also segue into much needed more efficient and more humanised treatments of other mental illnesses.