MSA BA3 Studio 3.1 Project - Mind & Body CPU

M I N D & B O D Y 3.1

BELLA MEARNS

BA3 CPU Studio Manchester School of Architecture

03 - Site Overview & Climatology

04 - Site Utilities & Infrastructure

05 - Site Accessability & Demographics

06 - SIte Heat DIstribution Analysis

07 - Site Observation & Drawings

08 - Site History & Development

09 - Site Materiality & Colour Schemes

10 - Site Usage & Building Typology

12 - Brooks Building Analysis

13 - Brooks Building Context

14-17 - Response

18 - Precedent - Programme

19-20 - Thoughtful Spaces

21 - Precedent - Escape Spaces

22 - Core strategies Visualization

23 - Catering to Neurodivergency and Mental Helath

24 - Prgramme Layout

25 - Public and Priavte

26 - Programme in Context

27 - Volumetric Exploration

28 - Generative Form

29-30 - Iterative Process

31 - Precedent - Generative Formation of Roof

32 - Precedent - Ladscaping Strategy

33 - Masterplan

34 - Precedent - Materiality and Structure

P R O P R O S A L

35 - Main Materiality and Structure

36 - Regulatory Documentation

37 - Sustainability

37-38 - Rendered GA’s

39 - Section and Elevation

41 - Reflection

42 - References

Brooks Building Analysis

Brooks Buildings is located very close to the site of this project. This MMU building constructed in 2016, contains the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, as well as the Faculty of Education under one roof. It is therefore ‘the home’ of this projects client.

When visiting the brooks building, I noted down all of the issues mentioned by the clients on thsi diagram

Brooks Building Context

Brooks Buildings is located on the Birley Campus of MMU, adjacent to Princess street and Hulme arch. Birley Campus is situated in Hulme, a 5 minute walk away from the All Saints Campus. The Campus is a largely green space and includes an energy centre, accomodation and carparks.

Response - The Clients

The brief of the project was generated from the issues presented by the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care (Amy Newton) with the MMU Brooks Building

Rising Student Population

Headline student numbers have increased to new records following a short dip after the 2012 reforms. There are however ongoing concerns about numbers outside this group where trends have not been so positive, including part time undergraduates, some postgraduate students, EU Students, mature students and some disadvantaged groups. There is also coonsiderable concern about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and student numbers, partocularly those from overseas and uncertainty about the impact of Brexit on EU student numbers.

Spaces must therefore be flexible to meet the demand of larger numbers, different uses and to accomodate all types of students.

FUNCTIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

INTERNATIONAL STUDY CENTRE

SHARED TEACHING FACILITIES

PROPERTY CONDITION

SPACE UTILISATION

SMARTER WORKING ENVIRONMENTS

POST GRADUATE ACCOMODATION

STUDY AND SOCIAL SPACE

PROPERTY RUNNING COSTS

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

MMU ESTATE PERFORMANCE

Amy Newton - Director of Faculty Planning & Operations

Matt Hill - Assistant Director of Capital Development at MMU

‘Includes modern teaching and learning spaces, serving 6,500 students, researchers and lecturers.’

Response - Design Drivers

All the listed keywords are related to the site or client and have occurred during the brief creation process. The highlighted keywords are the ones that seem to be most important to the clients and users, and also tend to resonate with the site

Objective 1

To refrain from creating a replication of the Brooks Building

Objective 2

To improve Mental Health within universities.

Objective 3

To Increase work placement spaces for students post-uni

Objective 4

To combine FOH and IOE departments

Objective 6

To keep a sustainable project, environmentally, and socioeconomically

Objective 7

To create flexible, useable, and calming specialised spaces

Objective 8

To maintain balance between shared, social and individual spaces

Objectives

I have given myself 7 main objectives to focus on for this project, inspired by my highlighted keywords and drivers on the right. These will guide my design and will be kept in mind in every choice that i make, in my programme, form, materials and structure.

Response - Personal position

From my personal experience of being a neurodivergent student at university, and my coversations with other students who struggle with mental health in manchester and surrounding universities, it is certain that mental health services forstudents need to be improved within univeristies. As a student at MMU additionally, who has previously seeked out help from the universities mental health service as well as the NHS, I have an introspecitve point of view on how the services for well-being and mental health can be improved.

Manifesto

A place for the mind and body. The future proposal aims to enable people with mental health issues and neurodivergency to more easily navigate university and seek help. It will also serve as a place for all students to study, relax and learn about maintaining good wellbeing and mental health, as well as a workplace for FOH and IOE students to practice and enter into placements. Education, help, rehabilitation and prevention. The proposal will be open for the public and aims to serve the local community as a leading centre of innovational mental health care, with real patients and help where it really matters.

Manifesto

My aim in this project is to create a building that introduces nature into architecture, as well as serves as a well being spac e and peaceful studying space for all university users. It is important to create links between the building and surrounding greenspaces, providing natural spaces for s tudents and staff to relax themselves according to Biophyllic Architecture principles. In addition to this, it is important to keep a sustainable building design, in terms of replacing any green space removed as a result of construction and further, and using sustainable materials in construction.

C ompletion - September 2020

A rchitects - Page/Park

To inspire my program and spaces, I have looked at the University of Edinburgh’s new Health and Wellbeing centre, which brings together the institution’s previously disconnected counselling and disability services, university pharmacy and University Health Centre, in a now fully accessible facilty dedicated to both clinical and holistic mental and physical wellbeing.

- Lifts

- Stairs

- Toilets

- Reception and waiting area

- Lounge/ multi-use community area/ lobby

- Quiet spaces/ privacy rooms

- Plant room/ garden area

- Consultation rooms for counselling and disability advisers

- Research/diagnosis rooms

- Meeting rooms and staff rooms

- Administration

- Cleaners stores/ stores

- Water tank room

- Switch board room

- Lv switch room

- Mechanical plant room

- Bike store

- Bin store

From looking at the plans of the precedent, I have listed the sort of spaces that I think would be beneficical to my building. As this is a University Building Catered to students and those looking for disabilities and counselling advice, this is a perfect example to inform the programme and spaces for my design

Precedent - Programme

Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

University of Edinburgh Wellbeing Centre

7 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH87AL

Thoughtful Spaces

I have looked at further spaces that I may like to add to my building, from seeing gaps in the spaces used in the prcedent, due to it only having the limited aids of disability and counselling advice. The program will be composed of various uses that people may find helpful. Some of them give a lower stimuli alternative to what can typically be found. Others can encourage learning, social engagement, and activity related to specific interests common among neurodivergent individuals.

Gym, Sauna/Spa and Yoga rooms

• Students can exercise regularly and burn off stress and tension.

• Means an easily accesible gym is close to Birley fields campus.

• Better connects Birley campus to All saints.

• Provides physio placement jobs to postgrads.

Games room

• Allows for destress breaks throughtout the day in the form of scheduled game time

• Helpful way to look after your mental health

• Gives us a space to unwind, relax and take time out from the pressures of daily life.

• Sociable way to have fun and stay connected with friends

Library and Study spaces (hyperfocus rooms)

• Could be used to encourage neurodivergent people to learn about what they want to and their speical interests, with no distractions.

• Better accesible to Birley campus

• Better connects Birley to All saints

Lecture and Theatre space

• MMU theatre school could benefit from this space.

• Those who have special interests in performance could use this space out side of their course.

• Could also serve as an accessible movie theatre. This would mean having subtitles on and devices that describe action to visually impaired viewers.

• It’s main use will be to educate people on mental health, wellbeing, neurodivergency and psychology

Group Workshops/Art rooms

• Encourage making art as a break from routine.

• Positive distraction, promotes creative thinking that helps with problem solving and encourages self expression.

• Artwork celebrates the student community when displayed.

• Provides teacher placement jobs to postgrads

Wellbeing teaching spaces (Cooking classroom)

• Learning in health and wellbeing ensures that young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.

• These spaces can also provide teacher placement jobs to postgrads

Thoughtful Spaces

Cafe and Kitchen

• Could provide neurodivergent people with a low stimuli option for going out to eat.

• This is important because of how stressful typical cafe’s can become

• Connects Birley campus and All saints

Shopping Store

• Makes shopping less stressful to neurodivergent individuals

• Can be done using specific techniques, such as spacial sequencing and zoning, compartmentalization and transition zoning,

• Would greatly improve a persons ability to shop for themselves without causing unwanted stress

• Connects Birley and All saints Campus

Clinic

• Would serve as a lower stimuli alternative to typical clinics and pharmacies.

• Would be a focus on mental health services and specific resources to help various neurodivergent people

• Connects Birley campus and All saints

Sensory stimulation Rooms

• Providing a stimulating environement can increase concentration and focus attention.

• Can develop or reactivate senses of hearing, sight, smell, touch and motor development.

Outdoors areas

• The outdoor areas would provide choices in stimuli level

• Allows people to be as comfortable as possible while getting fresh air and enjoying nature.

Group/Art Therapy Rooms

• Allows people to use their visually minded brains to communicate through artistic media.

• Allows them to record images and visual data, express ideas and process memories that they are unable to do verbally. Enables those partaking to gain support and understanding from others.

• Provide psychology placement jobs to postgrads

Escape/Panic spaces

• The objective of such spaces is to provide a respite for the autistic user from the over-stimlation found in their environment.

• These spaces should provide a neutral sensory environment with minimal stimulation

Precedent - Escape Spaces

RESET (Responsive Emotional Tranformation ) 2.0

Stress Reduction Pods

A rchitects - Unstudi o + Scape

Amsterdam, Netherlands 2020 - Current

Mobile and Modular Rebalance Refocus Reset

Having little experienced inspiration for escape/panic spaces, I have looked at the Reset Stress Reduction Pods by Unstudio. These pods aim to help tackle this issue by allowing people to take a break from everyday pressures to rebalance, refocus and reset, adressing the urgent need for stress relief in the workplace by empowering people to deal with stress more effectively. The pods link up to an app that measures stress, so that the pods can adjust accoridngly. I will look to encoporate this in my own design, but I have mainly looked at the shape and flexibility of these pods

The used shape for these pods allows the design to modular, and therefore easily mobile and flexible to different spaces. I have also experimented with different shapes that maywork. I have futher gone on to experiment with curves, to reduce stress. I found that simple circles didnt fit as well together as other shapes, but any tesselating and straight edge shapes were better. I can use any of these shapes depending on the space, and what shape fits better with it

Core Strategies Visualization

When looking at the main types of spaces in t building, in order to treat mental health, the spaces need to focus on improving and relaxing both the mind and body, as well as for education and reserach. Based on the spaces I think may belong in my building, I have visualised what these spaces could like through photoshop collage , seperating the spaces into mind, body and education spaces.

Mind Space

Body Space

Education Space

User Needs - Catering to Neurodivergence and Mental Health

A significant number of people find certain aspects of the built environment uncomfortable, distressing or a barrier to their u se. Stress and anxiety, often referred to as “sensory overload” results from the bombardment of sensory stimuli experienced without the ability to filter, or from spacial perception difficulties due to proprioception differences. People vary in their required proxemics, due to cultural and/ or neurological differences. The increased demand on an individual of the associated increased cognitive load (such as trying t o filter out unwanted environmental distractors or noise, maintain focus, perhaps also trying to control impulsive urges to fidget or stop the mind wandering, or to contain internal estlessness) unsurpris ingly leads to increased anxiety, fatigue and, in some cases, poor mental health. However, with awareness of these variations in need, many of the potential negative impacts can be eliminated, reduced or adjusted wit h thoughtful design or management to create places where everyone can flourish equally, and are provided with an equal opportunity to work, live and socialise comfortably.

These factors gives guidance on the reducing the sesory input through design of the built environment in order to include the needs of people who experience sensory/neurological processing differences, however, since the neurodivergent community is made up of so many different individuals with vastly differing/contradicting needs, developing a set of guidelines that can be used to help everyone is difficult, and therefore, any existing guidelines focus specifically on autistic users because of this.

ASPECTSS

Taking into consideration all these factors, I have made a chart showing which strategies could be used to help each neurodivergent condition, looking at overlap, similarities and differences between what could be helpful design strategies for each condition.

Designed

Programme Layout

The program aims to take the rules of sensory zoning and transitions into account, but also while having a non crowded and sens ible layout, where spaces are categorised. I have placed panic/escape spaces near the highest stimuli spaces, for a quick escape from overload. The white spaces inbetween the sections will serve as transi tion zones such as comfortable corridor/lounge spaces.

Sensory Zoning

This criterion proposes that when designing for autism, spaces should be organized in accordance with their sensory quality, rather than typical functional zoning. This requires grouping spaces according to their allowable stimulus level, into “high-stimulus” and “low-stimulus” with transition zones aiding the shift from one zone to the next.

Transitions

The presence of transition zones helps the user recalibrate their senses as they move from one level of stimulus to the next. Such zones can take on a variety of forms and may be anything from a distinct node that indicates a shift, to a full sensory room that allows the sensory re-calibration before transitioning from an area of high-stimulus to one of low-stimulus.

Through this I have aimed to create a gradient from the outside in, from high stimulus to low stimulus as a neurodivergent person is more likely to deal with issues in a high stimuli environment, so therefore means that when overwhelmed, they can leave the high stimulus space and exit through only low stimulus spaces to not create sensory overload.

Diagramtic visualization

Programme in Context

Here, I have looked at putting my programmatic diagrams in context with the site shape and entrance routes. I have looked at site strategy and also sensory and transition zoning in context with the shape of the site. I firstly looked at site strategy, looking at travel routes and possible entries to the site, and then went on to create a rough program diagram on the site.

Site Strategy

Layout maintains sensory and transition zones and provides easy exit and access points to high stimuli areas that need it

Rough Programming

Shop space will also have a seperate entrance for users who only need to shop to supply an easy exit to this high stimuli area

Food space and physical well being spaces placed near garden for views purpose

Gym is high stimuli compared to the rest of physical well being so needs to be in the high stimuli zone

24hr clinic and self help spaces must use private entry along cycle and pedestrian path which also allows ease of access to clients that need low stimuli

Staff spaces should have both high stimuli and low stimuli spaces

Both staff spaces and education spaces are mostly private areas

Education spaces are best next to the staff and study spaces

Volumetric Exploration

Iteration 1

laying out spcaes in context according to sensory zoning

Iteration 2

attempting to make a middle courtyard/garden space

Iteration 3

experimenting with levels

Atrium and Relaxation 758.24m2

Study spaces - 709.02m2

Education spaces - 1392.82m2

Staff spaces - 1028.30m2

Food space - 274.95m2

Essential and General spaces - 809.56m2

Physical well being spaces - 1065.63m2

Self Help spaces - 66190m2

Individual Space Volumes

I have gone on to looking at putting my spaces into volumes to give a more accurate representation of how they might fit on the site. I have also grouped the spaces into their respective sections, and coloured them in green and blue to seperate them but also seperate them into High stimuli dominated (green) and low stimuli dominated (blue) to focus on sensory zoning. From experimenting with the mass sizes of these spacials, I foud that the digital spect of the massing made the structure less physical, and it was harder to realistically fit th e blocks to the site when they were just blocks

Generative Form

Looking at what contributes to a mental healing process and helps neurodivergent people in architecture, this has inspired my f orm generation. I have looked mostly at optimising the space while using curves along with creating an enclosed garden space which will be a quiter and a more private space for users. I have also look ed at curved ceilings, which my tutor reccomended as something that is helpful to those who are neurodivergent.

starting with a rounded shape to ensure curved walls and experiment with space

e xperimenting with shape of site and maximising space

reducing size of shape so that landscaping can be considered

Curved Walls reduces fear of corners, better perception of space, gives softness

curving out the shape and further maximising the space

adding a garden space in the middle

curving out the garden space to keep curved walls

attempting to optimise garden space using an oval shape

offseting original shape to create similar shaped space for garden to optimise space

adding a curved ceiling to keep curves consitent within the structure

Green Courtyards

Public yet private space, proper lighting, connects with nature, horticulture therapy

Iterative Process with Rough Volume

Using the outline of the form I developed on the last page, I have fit in the rough sizes of the spaces I would like to have in my building, to give a better idea of the program within the space before developing a plan drawing. This also allows me to see the 3d volume of the floors and how they may look and develop the placement of e ach space in reference to its function and the buildings function as a whole

Whe looking at the design process of the layout in the previous page, I revisitied public and private spaces within the site to inspire the layout of the building, looking at what parts of the building I wanted to serve private or public users.

In my analysis of the site, i have looked at vegetation to create semi private spaces, as well as public acces and possible views into the building. From my previous digram on pages 25 and 24, i was able to arrange the different spaces appropriatley

Ground Floor

First Floor

Precedent - Generative Formation of Roof

C ompletion - 2014

A rchitects - Diamond Schmitt Architects

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Looking at the roof structure and design of the TRU Law School, I am greatly inspired by the way the natural surroundings and First Nations heritage informs the design of the roof, which makes a bold connection with the landscape while also fitting with the program to work with the key spaces and allow a larger scope of views across the landscape as user as well as shading the glass facade. This results in a sense of calm and connection with nature, and spatially engaging spaces with dynamic volumes that shift across its length.

4.

With Manchester being right next to the sweeping hills of the peak district and being inspired to incoprate nature further into my design while correlating with the function of opening up and creating more interesting key spaces. I also think this strategy works well with bringing more light into the spaces and height to create a better learning environment, as well as keeping the theme of curves and mental health prevalent in my design.

Thompson Rivers University Law School

1. Base Model 2. Adding an overhang 3. Experimenting with undul -ation and deep curves

Using curves to optimise key spaces while not reducing ceiling height

Precedent - Landscape Strategy

New

C ompletion - 2024

A rchitects - Herzog & de Meuron

416, New North Zealand Hospital, Hillerod, Denmark

1. Adding grass base2. Connecting key spaces

Looking at the Biophyllic design of the New North Zealand Hospital, I have been inspired by the connection that between sections of the building and the forrest like feel that the courtyard brings, on such a large scale, allowing a relaxing and social space for users of the hospital, which I am looking to replicate in my own design.

3. Adding vegetation to create forrest courtyard and timber walkway/ se -ating around perimeter

4. Adding further vegetation and seating around exterior

Going on to add these ideas to my own design, I have added vegetation and vegetation and pathways, and seating in the courtyard, as well as around the structure

North Zealand Hospital

Masterplan

The masterplan shows how the site will use and influence the surrounding infrastructure, such as the Brooks Building, the Car p ark, and the Energy Centre. It also shows the routes users will take on different transports, as well the delivery routes.

Precedent - Materiality and Structure

Helsinki Central Library

Oodi

C ompletion - December 2018

A rchitects - ALA Architects

Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100

Helsinki, Finland

Adaptable to curves of roof as it bends material bends effortlessly to a wide variety of shapes. It also refelcts the suns heat rays, reducing cooling costs, requires steel roof structure

Insulates from exterior noise of city centre and roads, creates elevated standards of noise reduction. Also very flexible and easy to work with, and the tiles offer various possibilities of shaping and modelling

Filters out excess usnlight and heat energy, and also prevents reflection and glare. Also works to allow people to see views, while obstructing views in from public. Furhter maximises use of daylight while preventing overheating, similar to diffusion glass

Burns slower than other woods and provides good acoustic treatment, maintaining a desired ambient noise level for a library. Also flexible and easy to mold round curves of structure. Also creates a natural and relaxing environment

timber reduces the carbon footprint, conforms to the sweeping curves. The translucent coating system protects the timber against fires. The lamella also provides great acoustic treatment

Due to this structure being similar to my own design in form and function, while also serving functions of reducing sensory input via mateirals and shape, I have been inspired by its material makeup for my design

BMI Icopal white metallic bitumen roof

Mono Rockfon acoustic ceiling

Printed Glass

Timber Lamella coated with surface treatment

CLT

Main Materiality and Structure

Again, Looking at what contributes to a mental healing process and helps neurodivergent people in architecture, I have further looked at materials that reduce the sesnory environment so that people with hypersensitivites do not become overwhelmed. I have also looked into connecting the materials with the environment, as well as providing privacy. The main things I have looked to reduce is harsh lighting and ambient noise levels.

Timber (Lamella) - Secondary Structure

Locally sourced woods such as timber are the most sustainable option, due to being renewable and giving off less carbon emissions. Lamella will also provide acoustic treatment, maintaining a desired ambient noise level and sound quality. Wood also creates a natural and relaxing environment.

Steel - Primary Structure

Steel is also a very recycled product in construction and structure, and is very easily reused, and any steel deck, joist or beam can be turned into something else. It is also very durable and strong structurally, but also flexible, so will be perfect for this type of structure

Diffusion/printed Glass - Windows/Walls

Provides a more evenly lit space than direct lighting. It makes the space more comfortable for everyone, but especially those with hypersensitivity. Also provides privacy from the roads outside, while stil allowing views outwards and control of overheating

Dyed Cork - Flooring

After research, I have found that cork floors also provide acoustic benefits and a softer feel under foot. Cork is also an inherently sustainable resource, both renewable and biodegradable.

Fire Circulation and Wayfinding

Fire regulations should be considered to ensure the safety of the users in the Mind and Body space. The distance to the nearest exits were considered for each level and geometry and I have made sure that there are staricases and lifts located near the exits

Table 2.1 Limitations on travel distance

5 Assembly and recreation:

a. buildings primarily for disabled people:

9 (one escape) 18 (more than one escape)

b. areas with seating in rows:

15 (one escape) 32 (more than one escape)

Table 2.2 Minimum number of escape routes and exits from a room, tier or storey:

Maximum number of people - Minimum number of escape routes/exits:

60 - 1

600 - 2

Fire protection of lift installtions

c. elsewhere 18 (one escape) 45 (more than one escape) Fire Exits

5.34 Lift wells should comply with one of the following conditions.

a. Be sited within the enclosures of a protected stairway.

b. Be enclosed with fire resisting construction (minimum REI 30) when in a position that might prejudice the means of escape

c. elsewhere 18 (one escape) 45 (more than one escape)

Access

In accordance with document K, the ramps into the lecture theatre are loacted in clearly visible places, and follows the steepness guide of building regulations. the width does not exceed 18m, and provides suitable dimensions for wheelchair to manouvre and will include handrails.

Additionally, wheelchair lifts have been added in areas unsuitable for ramps and entrances sizable for wheelchair use

Circulation

all circulation routes are sized according to the regulations document, at a minimum of 2.4m wide

Staircases

Sustainability

While working through a climate emergency creating a need for lower carbon emissions, it is important to consider sustainabilit y in your work and the greater impact of your building. DUe to this, I have looked at the RIBA SUSTAINABLE OUTCOME GOALS, which provides sustainable solutions as a fundamental part of any architectural design process

Paths around building with cycle route and access to road

1. NET ZER O OPERATIONAL CARBON

durable, low carbon and renewable materilaity

lots of trees and green spaces

2. NET ZERO EMBODIED CARBON

strong visual connectivity to outside while also maintaining glare control

Benches

3. SUSTAINABLE WATER CYCLE

Exisiting trees on site encorporated into design

Courtyard and recreational space

4. SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIVITY AND TRANSPORT

Paths interconnecting building to courtyard space

biodiversity of trees and vegetation

5. SUSTAINABLE LAND USE AND ECOLOGY

6.GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING

7. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL VALUE

great acoustic comfort

Seating area around garden and walkway

inclusive and accesible

8. SUSTAINABLE LIFE CYCLE COST

G R O U N D F L O O R P L A N 1 : 2 0 0

Scaled To Fit

F I R ST F L O O R P L A N 1 : 2 0 0

Scaled To Fit

S E C T I O N A N

R E F L E C T I O N

POSITION

On looking back at my manifestos, I do feel that I am fulfilling these within my design, from my research and analysis of how architecture can contribute towards a mental health healing process as well as how a space can influence and affect those who are neurodivergent. I would further like to look at sustainability and biomorphism through landscaping, within my work, further integrating my design with nature in a sustainable way.

PROPOSITION

In my proposition, I have focussed heavily on sensory and transition zoning, as I feel that that can be one of the most important changes to how we layout our spaces for anyone. I have also tried to include unique spaces, such as hyperfocus rooms, and escape and panic spaces. I have correlated this to generating the form and materiality of my structure, and looked at precedents to inform my decisions, and I would like to look at this in further depth and detail

PROPOSAL

As an initial proposal, I have illustrated the layout and positioning of the spaces I want to have in my building, as well as the building form and dimensions. I would further like to go onto to add dimension, structure, and animate my design, as well as better utilization of space. The design is succesful in bringing people closer to nature, reducing anxiety, and connectivity is at the centre of the design, driving the way people interact with the project.

SELF CRITIQUE

The spacialised spaces remain very vague and need some more consideration, but these spaces will develop as my project continues. Additionally, one issue I find difficult with my research, is that a lot of the information around mental health, and neurodivergency is wrong or outdated, so going off my own experiences, I am wary of creating a building that is too subjective. In order to prevent this, I must continue to ask of others expereinces as well.

FUTURE OF THE PROJECT

I hope to further resolve my project, by looking at making more flexible spaces within the building and increasing the prevalence of vegetation and biophyllic design. I am also going to look at other factors that create a comfortable calming and navigatable space for all. I would also like to include sustainability more within my project, so environmental considerations will be looked at. I am excited to develop my buildings dimension, structure and circulation.

R E F E R E N C E L I S T

Bolton, P. (2023) Higher education student numbers - House of Commons Library, UK Parliament. Paul Bolton. Available at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7857/ (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

Brooks Building, Manchester Metropolitan University (no date) Sheppard Robson. Available at: https://www.sheppardrobson.com/projects/manchester-metropolitan-university-brooks-building (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

Hamilton, J. (no date) University of Edinburgh Wellbeing Centre - Page Park, Page \ Park. Available at: https://pagepark.co.uk/project/architecture/university-edinburgh-bristo-square/ (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

Planning – planning application documents (no date) 18/01113/FUL | 7 Bristo Square Edinburgh EH8 9AL. Available at: https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=P5N35HEWFIS00 (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

The Autism ASPECTSS™ Design Index (no date) ASPECTSS* Architecture for Autism. Magda Mostafa. Available at: https://www.autism.archi/aspectss (Accessed: January 16, 2023).

Lawburg, A. (2022) Neurodivergent Friendly Architecture. thesis. Alexandra Lawburg.

The Building Regulations 2010: Fire safety. 2019th edn (2006) edn. London, UK: HM Government (B).

“Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment – Guide ”(2021). The British Standards Institution.

Reset 2.0 stress reduction pods (no date) RESET 2.0 Stress Reduction Pods. UNStudio. Available at: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/14154/reset-2.0-stress-reduction-pods (Accessed: March 7, 2023).

Old main building revitalization (2021) Diamond Schmitt. Available at: https://dsai.ca/projects/old-main-academic-building-addition/ (Accessed: March 9, 2023).

Caballero, P. (2018) Oodi Helsinki Central Library / ALA architects, ArchDaily. ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/907675/oodi-helsinki-central-library-ala-architects (Accessed: March 9, 2023).

416 New North Zealand Hospital (no date) Herzog & de Meuron. Available at: https://www.herzogdemeuron.com/projects/416-new-north-zealand-hospital/ (Accessed: March 9, 2023).