Translation of Therapeutic Architecture as a Guideline for Residential Design

Abstract

Therapeutic architecture creates evidence-based healing environments, which is predominantly used in healthcare spatial design at present. But the worsening mental health scenario of the world highlights the need for this branch to extend beyond the medical field. The onset of COVID-19 further amplifies the need of residential spaces to be conducive of a healthier lifestyle. The research addresses this need by designing strategies for translating the principles of therapeutic architecture to residential spatial design, to thereby fit the user requirements of residents instead of patients. Literature review and case study methods are used to understand the theories and models of therapeutic architecture, its current applications, and the impact of its design elements on human psychology and physiology. The analysis of the theories is used to build an evaluation tool, which is used to analyse the spatial design of the literature case studies, as well as the survey answers. Survey of psychiatrists and psychologists give first-hand information of healthcare spatial design for healing patients. Survey of 100 individuals gives insight into their mental health and design of their current residential spaces. The results of these surveys are analysed according to the evaluation tool to compare the spatial design of healthcare centres to those of residential spaces, and how they promote or deter better health. Findings from these are evaluated in this research to generate new guidelines for appropriately integrating therapeutic architecture to residential spaces, to positively reinforce the health of its residents and expose them to spaces that support their well-being.