Embody Me Softly // A2 | FAP // WS23

Jana Řehořová * Adam Rýznar * Year 4 * A2 UMPRUM * WS 23/24

ANNOTATION EMBODY ME SOFTLY An exploration of temporary havens & artifical bodies within a contemporary urban environment.

The core element of our project was to focus on a novel type of institution within a local context regarding yet non-existent centers aimed at survivors/victims of sexualised violence.

Together, partially drawing inspiration from our own personal observations & encounters, we are proposing a temporary haven with a wholly centralised infrastructure, primarily alleviating various causes of secondary victimisation & possible retraumatization commonly trigerred by different elements of law enforcement.

We attempted to design a typology of psychotherapeutic care with a somewhat rapid process of assembly within a local context of lacking professional help & delicate approach towards survivors/victims of sexual abuse. We placed our proposal within an already existing, yet unused structure of a large hospital complex with a certain hope to catalyse a chain reaction in other parts of the country. The entirety of the former central laundry is preserved, only being enriched by cheeky furniture compartments, mostly outsourced from municipal material banks.

As aforementioned, a quick, affordable construction, easy variability & immediate usage are some of the key aspects of this project.

We are also adding an additional, separate yet intriguing layer of digital avatarism. One may thus conceive their own artificial body, create a bespoke, safe environment in order to facilitate their personal traumas & engage in a multitude of virtual activities all the while stimulating the process of healing.

The proposed space is not entirely enclosed from the public view as a non-negligible part of the haven shall also be thematic education & other means of raising awareness, with an aim to hopefully reshape current societal & behavioral patterns regarding the problems of rape culture in the Czech Republic.

A very special thank you goes to Anežka Michnová of Sdruženy & Kristýna Bělíková of Konsent & Proč jsme to nenahlášily*i for their valuable time, insight & consultations that we also attempted to reflect in this project.

Contacts jana.rehorova@umprum.cz * @re__jana adam.ryznar@umprum.cz * @adamryznar

CURRENT SITUATION IN CZ — 12 000 rapes per year.

— 5 % of these rapes are reported.

— 2/5 adults have been survivors/victims of sexual harassment or violence.

— Domestic violence increased by up to 50 % during the first wave of covid measures.

— 2/5 people faced physical, psychological or sexual violence during childhood, and in most cases the perpetrators were their peers or parents. decentralized services: police

hospital

therapy, …

centralized services: Yet there is/was no specialized & comprehensive center for these survivors/victims in the Czech Republic.

Such institutions are common abroad; for example, in Norway or Ireland, there are such centres in every county.

Thus, the Czech Republic does not meet the minimum standards & recommendations of the Council of Europe in the area of assistance towards sutvivors/victims of gender-based violence.

Jan 22, 2024 — opening of a new facility:

PORT

PORT Basic info Location: Břevnovská ulice, Praha 6 (former post office) Realization: 1. 11. 2021—22. 1. 2024 Finance: Prague 6 and the Crisis Centre in Fredrikstad (Norway) Project coordinator: Iva Peterková (iva.peterkova@profem.cz) Services — Social advice and Crisis assistance — Legal advice — Individual/group psychotherapy — Crisis apartment — Testimonial room — Collection and preservation of genetic samples & evidence The Centre will contribute to a reduction of negative effects of sexual violence and stigmatization of survivors/victims, to an implementation of victims’ rights and their empowerment, and consequently to an overall improvement of their lives.

In the course of this project, it will also initiate and strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and education of general/professional public in a trauma-sensitive approach, thereby reducing a risk of secondary victimization and improving coherence of other individual institutions.

PROPOSAL + w/o a need of transportation across Prague! + centralised safe space — employees supervised and carefully selected, empathy guaranteed. + w/o institutional aesthetics.

- limited budget — PORT was being built for 4 years, limited space & finances — former post office.

- just one center in process/completion!

- somewhat secluded location (Břevnov, P6).

Conception of a safe haven: ❶ temporary, non-invasive structure built into an already existing unused space — aiming for a low-cost, easily assembled/disassembled inventory. ❷ swift expansion into other cities — covering interim needs (providing care until a permanent center as such is opened nearby). ❸ each city/county — different possibilities, spatial limitations, finances — catalogue of tips regarding design, typology, programme or a particular location. ❹ raising awareness!

Conception of a neoritual: ❺ exploring various possibilities of engagement within digitalverse in order to relieve stress, facilitate communication of uncomfortable or traumatizing topics/events & to form one’s individually customized safe space using an artifical body.

INSTITUTIONS OF CARE & COMMUNITY CENTERS

4

8

6

1

Konsent‘s main office

2

Czech Society of AIDS Help (emergency examinations)

3

Proč jsme to nenahlásily*i‘s office at HYB4

4 PORT — Center for victims of sexual assault 5

proFem‘s office

6

General University Hospital in Prague — the laundry

7 General University Hospital in Prague — the nearest gynaecological examination 8

the nearest Municipal Police station

1

2

3

7

5

SITE LOCATION & PUBLIC TRANSPORT

← Karlovo náměstí Moráň

Botanická zahrada

Tram 2, 3, 4, 10, 14, 16, 18, 24, 92, 93, 94, 95, X95

Tram 14, 18, 24, 93, 95, X95

Palackého náměstí Tram 2, 3, 4, 10, 16, 92, 94

Tram (waterfront) 2, 3, 17, 21, 92

Bus 176, 904, 907, 908, 910

Metro B

BUILDING FLOORPLAN & WAYS OF ENTRY

A4 Building Former central laundry of the GU hospital.

Currently used as an occasional exhibition venue (GHMP).

Gate entry Strongly connected with the institution of a hospital.

Might be triggering to certain people.

Garden entry Provides a sense of calmness & safety.

Stripped of an institutional image.

Varies with seasons.

Both paths are concealed from the streets, which we consider to be an important factor.

WAYS OF ENTRY ↓

OPERATIONAL DIAGRAM →

INTIMATE

PRIVATE

SEMIPRIVATE

testimony space

children’s playzone

crisis apartment

relaxation zone

crisis apartment - facility

kitchen

reception

wc

SEMIPUBLIC

PUBLIC

entry 1

reception + security facility

employee spaces visitor spaces digital realm

BASE

office - coordinator and assistant

acoustic separation - existing acoustic separation - c. 100-150 mm - acoustic panels, sandwich panels ... visual separation - c. 10-50 mm - osb panels, metal sheets, wood, plasterboard , ... variable separation - textile courtain, plastic courtain, blinds, shutters, ...

office - administration

connection - employees connection - visitors connection - visitors - lockable

office - psychologist and lawyer

connection - visitors - digital crisis area education area spreading awareness area

shared kitchen private - survivors, employees semiprivate - + relatives, company

consultation desk

facility

wc

cleaning room

warehouse

entry 2

ADDITIONAL

screening room

physical realm

children’s playzone

wc

NEORITUAL

artificial body

manual

digital realm

therapy

digital nook 1-4

testimony

group therapy

legal help

DIGITAL DIAGRAM

ENTRY LEVEL

PRIV

PHYSICAL REALM → DIGITAL REALM

a manifestation of one‘s needs;

an introduction into the digital realm; a virtual playground enabling survivors to engage in a spectrum of activities. suitable for beginners, aided by a digital tutor.

various levels & possibilities of customization regarding the digital realm, setting one‘s specific preferences based on the current state of mind. suitable for entry level users, aided by a digital tutor.

MANUAL

AVAT

INTIM

ADVANCED LEVEL

VATE

ATAR

MATE

a creation of an artifical body; a virtual procession of personal information, experience & preferences leading to a conception of an avatar / artificial body. ability to record testimonies, reflect one‘s trauma, discuss legal issues, etc.

a socialisation of artifical bodies, either via group therapy or other activites; a possibility of engagement within the digital spectrum. suitable for advanced users.

THERAPY

DIGITAL REALM → PHYSICAL REALM

TEMPORAL DIAGRAM

EXTERNISTS

EMPLOYEES

NUMBER

total

reception

1

4

24/7

security

1

4

24/7

coordinator

1

1

8/5

assistant

1

1

8/5

administration

1

1

8/5

psychotherapy hotline

1

4

24/7 on call

psychologist

1

4

24/7

cleaning

1

2

1x per day

IT support

1

1

12/24 on call

legal help - lawyer

1

2

24/7 on call

self-help group coordinator

1-2

1-2

2x per week

art therapy coordinator

1-2

1-2

1x per week

music therapy coordinator

1-2

1-2

1x per week

meditation and yoga tutor

1-2

1-2

2x per week

avatar lectures tutor

1

1

12/24 on call

survivors/victims VISITORS

am 00

per shift

24/7

self-help group/community

visitors - education

visitors - exhibition/event

eventually

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

9

physically in work possible flexibility shift change

available on call opening hours scheduled programme

TIME

10

11

pm 12

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

00

THE LAUNDRY

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

THE RECEPTION

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

THE OFFICES

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

THE SHARED KITCHEN

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

THE DIGITAL REALM

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

THE PHYSICAL REALM

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

THE APARTMENT

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

DISPLAY OF MOVEMENT

employee movement visitor movement hospital employee movement care zone education zone raising awareness reaising awarenesszone zone

20

10

5 4 3 2 1 0

CURRENT STATE

PROPOSED STATE

CURRENT STATE

PROPOSED STATE

CURRENT STATE

PROPOSED STATE

DIGITAL NOOK

☼

«

Thank you. «

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~~* Hello. *~~

»

Are you new here?

»

Perhaps I might show you around.

»

It is quite pleasant, actually.