SPATIAL DESIGN
ESCAPE
GLASS WAVE
TWILI GHT
SIMPLY WARM
KITCHEN AND BATH
ALTON TOWER l
ALTON TOWER ll
BRIDLETOWN CIRCLE
MCNICOLL
NEW FOREST SQUARE
ESCAPING THE REAL WORLD
CONCEPT
Technology has taken over today’s society and will continue to expand in the future. As technology has brought many people closer, it has also separated us from those who are nearby. People are slowly disconnecting with the real world where hiding behind screens has become the norm. The constant use and easy access of modern technology has help create connection within our world but also have produce isolation and created many mental issues, such as society anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts and more. The rate of depression by itself have gone up, where 1 in 4 canadians has a degree of depression serious enough to need treatment in their life.
This thesis explores the concept of social inclusion by combining modern technology, nature and a cognitive strategy therapy called roleplaying implemented with virtual reality and the physical world. It will aid the training of desired characteristics of individuals and provide a sense of belonging while encouraging human connection.
SITE STUDY
A residental neighbourhood that is located on the east side Toronto, Ontario (Site location: Queen Street East and Dalhousie street). An area known for homelessness and drug deals which could protentially correlate to mental health. There are many shelters within the area, that offer services and help for those that are struggling. The area has degraded over the past decade with crimes and drug use. However, there is a fast-approaching transformation of building three new condos and a new park in the works of being develop. This could help create a more diverse demographic, but it does not solve the issues in homelessness or drug dealing as it will just push the problems away to another place and will create more complications.
The building is facing Queen Street East and has a side entrance on Dalhousie street. The plot is currently used as a parking spot and the site is very close to Moss Park. The area have a mix of different building types such as, residental, commerical, business, shelter, church, institutional and community center.
CONCEPTUAL SOAP MODELS
FLOOR PLAN
The ground floor is open to the public where people enter through the garden mixed with real and augmented plants, as well as projections and screens that are displaying nature. This gives the impression that they are stepping into another space and at the entry, people will need to drop off their phones and devices. There is also a long hallway in the middle of the plan that creates a connection to the front and back garden.
This floor is mainly designed to assist roleplaying therapy for patients. It will allow them to interact with the public and develop characteristic goals. Users will be able to explore all the different spaces and connect with patients, though areas such as a floral shop, cafe, virtual reality rooms, and more. The goal is to disconnect users with the digital world while helping everyone reconnect with each other and the real world.
The second floor is the mental health clinic. Evaluations, counselling and therapy sessions are conducted to further help patients. There is a mental healing balcony with outdoor group therapy rooms.
The third and forth floor are private and residental spaces for patients to stay. There is a mix of single and shared bedrooms toaccomdate different patients. The living, kitchen and dining space are open concept to encourage interactions. There are also entertainment spaces such as, virtual reality gaming and exercise room
A PROJECTOR SCREEN
B HOLOGRAM PLANTS
- Projection of plants enclose in glass case - large screen that display nature scenery
C PHONE DROPOFF BOOTH
- User must dropoff phone before entering
D VIRTUAL REALITY ROOMS
- Scenario - Act - Play
- Project users using vr therapy
- hows the experience
- Led screens
- Modular cubes
- Display users using vr therapy
- Display a landscape or another place
FLORAL
G VIRTUAL REALITY: MEET
- Three users go through pathway with VR headset
- Conversation and interaction in pathway
- Meet at end room and takes off headset
- Gravity can give a feeling of uneasiness during experience
H VIRTUAL REALITY: EYEMOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING
- Recall traumatic memory and follow point with eye
- One user undergo therapy, the other user experience it to give support
- Meet at the end to watch and review it together
- Walking uphill give a feeling of needing more strength
- To encourage interaction with people
- Living life from another perspective
TWILIGHT
Architecture as Threshold,
“The most violent element in society is ignorance”
The project is to create an architecture building or structure that embodies the idea of a gatehouse for the site.
The focus of this design is to confront the ignorance towards mental health in society using the idea of light and dark. The main purpose is
ART GALLERY/SCHOOL
ST PATRICK STREET
MCCAUL STREET
ART COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS
GRANGE ROAD
BEVERLEY STREET
COMMERICAL/RESIDENT
The gateway is located underground on Grange Road to allow users to experience a different approach when crossing the street. Grange Road leads to a park where it is interconnected with OCAD University and Art Gallery of Ontario. The area is also filled with galleries, art commercial, and an artistic atmosphere. Many creative people are gathered in the area to share and express their artwork and talent.
The design for the gateway project focuses mainly on the students from OCAD university that are dealing with mental health. Many of them could be using art as a form to express their emotions and feelings. They could also be struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, and more. The gateway is supposed to reflect and create an immersive experience for users that portrays a dark side and a light side, where one is portraying the idea of mental health issues and the other side as the happy narcissistic society.
How it works
There are two corridors, the first one projects light and happiness whereas the one beside shows darkness and depression. There is a two-way mirror that divides the corridors. This element allows light to emit into the dark corridor. On the dark side, people can sit alone and immerse themselves in loneliness while envying the “light”. The visitors who enter the light side would experience their reflections from the mirror that introduce a narcissist act.
MATERIAL
Wood - used in “light” corridor to perceive warmth
Concrete - used in “dark” corridor to perceive coldness
ELEVATION
LAUNDRY
