Dissertation Report by: Krishna Sastha B
DESIGNING FOR RECOVERY: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SPATIAL DESIGN SOLUTIONS IN ENHANCING HOLISTIC WELL-BEING
Architectural Focus Study: Research Skills A Dissertation By
Krishna Sastha B 20BAR0020
Submitted to the School of Architecture Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
November 2024
ARC4008 Architecture Focus Study - Research Skills
Copyright 2024 Krishna Sastha B
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE DISSERTATION REPORT TITLED
DESIGNING FOR RECOVERY: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SPATIAL DESIGN SOLUTIONS IN ENHANCING HOLISTIC WELL-BEING IS A BONAFIED WORK OF KRISHNA
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, VELLORE, TAMIL NADU
DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-24
Dr. MadhumathiA
Professor & Director
School ofArchitecture
Vellore Institute of Technology
Vellore -632004
Ar. Dipika M
Guide (Assistant Professor)
School ofArchitecture
Vellore Institute of Technology
Vellore -632004
Panel Head Internal Examiner
Dr. Rituparna Das
Dr. Madhumathi
Ar. Nandita
To
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who supported me throughout the completion of this dissertation. First and foremost, I am thankful to my guide, Ar. Dipika M, for her invaluable support and guidance throughout this research. Her expert insights, continuous encouragement, and thoughtful feedback helped shape this dissertation in every phase.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Niranjana, whose efforts in helping me connect with mental health professionals were crucial in gathering the perspectives needed for this study.
I am deeply grateful to the mental health professionals who participated in the survey, providing valuable insights that significantly contributed to this research. Their willingness to share their experiences is greatly appreciated.
My sincere appreciation goes to the institutions and individuals who provided access to the case study materials and other resources, enabling me to ground my research in real-world examples.
Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support, understanding, and motivation throughout this journey. Your encouragement kept me focused and determined.
Krishna Sastha B
20BAR0020
This dissertation explores the transformative role of architectural design in advancing mental health recovery. Against the backdrop of an increasing societal focus on holistic healing, the study investigates how thoughtfully designed environments can support psychological well-being, particularly for conditions such as anxiety, mild depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are manageable through non-invasive therapeutic methods.
The research highlights essential principles of healing architecture, focusing on the integration of sensory experiences, natural elements, and spatial configurations. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combines literature review, case study analysis, and survey data, this study identifies the preferences and priorities of mental health professionals and the public for therapeutic environments. Key findings underline the significance of factors like access to natural light, green spaces, privacy, and seamless accessibility in fostering nurturing, healing spaces.
By addressing the gaps in current mental health facilities, this dissertation offers evidence-based design recommendations aimed at enhancing the efficacy of healing environments. The findings emphasize the critical need for architectural spaces that promote holistic well-being and psychological resilience, contributing meaningfully to the broader discourse on sustainable and human-centred design for mental health recovery.
Keywords:
Healing environments, Mental health, Therapeutic architecture, Biophilia, Psychological well being
2.1.
The condition of mental health disorders has become a world crisis; one in five people are affected with these conditions. It has increased the global burden of disease much to the point where depression has recently become the leading cause of disability around the globe. In India, too, mental health challenges are going up. More people today are struggling with anxiety, depression, and stress. Yet stigma related to mental illness frequently prevent individuals from seeking services; the country faces a scarcity of mental health professionals and provisions. The COVID-19 crisis has only worsened the condition with an urgent need for wholesome mental health care. Not only is medical treatment integral but the physical setting also largely determines the recovery process with mental health. The design of architectural spaces can significantly impact psychological health, providing avenues for the development of environments that foster recovery and fortitude for those experiencing mental health challenges.
2.2.
From the available estimates, there are about 60 to 70 million people who have possibly been hit by any type of mental health disorders or ailments - anxiety, depression, or PTSD. - that is entirely below the tenth mark compared to the global average of countries which have less than 10 mental health professionals for 10 million people. The availability of mental health facilities is poorly over-crowded under-resourced, having no basic structural facilities at all. Due to the society's cultural stigma about mental illness, many still keep away from getting help for their mental suffering; the instances of suicide have alarmingly jacked up more than 400 people's lives every day, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In contrast, advanced nations like the United States and many European countries possess more robust mental healthcare systems, boasting a higher ratio of professional practitioners to the general population and better overall infrastructure. Such countries would also have holistic energies built into healing environments of mental health facilities and include biophilic design - uses natural light, greenery, and soothing elements - which have worked wonders in enhancing psychological wellbeing and recovery.
While even the richest countries face plenty of obstacles to optimal mental healthcare, what they offer pales in significance compared with what India can offer its citizens. The need is highly urgent for betterment of resources and infrastructure as far as India's mental health care system is concerned. Addressing these gaps will have a significant role for architectural design in creating healing spaces.
The purpose of this study is to examine how the design of architecture can serve to promote recovery from mental health by encouraging the development of psychological well-being and resilience in the built environment. Examining the relationship of space and mental health, it would be possible to provide empirically grounded recommendations for the design of therapeutic environments that encourage recovery from anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Understand the key elements of healing architecture by reviewing literature on evidence-based design, sensory architecture, and the human-environment relationship.
Evaluate the effectiveness of existing therapeutic environments through case studies, highlighting their strengths and identifying areas for improvement.
Investigate the innovative design strategies that integrate natural elements to foster therapeutic and calming environments.
Incorporate the survey findings to determine the public's needs and preferences for healing spaces, emphasizing sensory and spatial qualities.
Recommend design improvements and evidence-based solutions to address gaps in current facilities for enhanced psychological recovery.
This study adopts a mixed-method approach to investigate the role of design in architecture for mental health recovery. The mixture of qualitative and quantitative would allow a thorough investigation into the users' subjective experiences and the objective reality of the existing mental health facilities.
This research uses a mixed-methods approach to enrich the study of architectural design and mental health recovery. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative data that provide a wide, comprehensive view of the subjective experience of users and the objective reality of the mental health facilities used.
• Surveys conducted with healthcare professionals, including mental health providers and architects, to gather insights on current facility design challenges and needs.
• Case Studies of existing mental health facilities, both in India and internationally, to identify design strategies that have been successfully implemented.
• Interviews with patients (where applicable) to understand their experiences in therapeutic environments and how design features impact their recovery.
Figure1Methodology(Source:Author)
The present study focuses on non-drug therapies for mental ill-health therapy, such as psychotherapy and mindfulness, in the role of architectural design in facilitating such approaches in the facilities for treating mild or anxiety, depression, and trauma courses and denies the same for institutions dealing with severe mental disorders.
Limitations also include case studies available only to a few regions where mental health facilities are poor and, on the other hand, the inability to consider privacy in data collection among health practitioners and patients as obstacles. In addition, practical implementation of the design recommendations can be affected by parameters such as budget, local bylaws, and culture regarding mind health.
Figure2TypesofMentalIllness(Source:Author)
Numerous studies have so far examined architecture and mental health recovery. They indicate that various design features can induce psychological well-being. The main approaches studied include biophilic design, sensory architecture, and evidence-based design principles; they were found to have a positive impact with regard to the mental health outcomes of the study.
Table 1 presents a synthesis of some key studies in this area. It provides an overview of the area or focus of the studies, their methodology, and main findings, thus allowing inferences on how the built environment supports mental health recovery. This could therefore be termed the scaffolding of the research state of the art and what informs the design recommendations later addressed in this dissertation.
Title Year Author Design focus Study Methodology Learning outcome
Healing Architecture
Evaluating the Psychosocial Impact of Indoor Public Spaces in Complex Healthcare Settings
Exploring Inpatients’ Experiences of Healing and Healing Spaces: A Mixed Methods Study
Space in the Function of Psychological Stability of a Child
2010 Bryan R. Lawson
Interior spaces of health care focusing on the qualitative values
2018 Giuseppe Lacanna, Cor Wagenaar, Tom Avermaete, Viren Swami
Indoor public spaces Impact of the built environment over the human behaviour and it's surrounding
2017 Lorissa MacAllister, Dawn Bellanti, Bonnie R. Sakallaris
2008 Danica Stanković
Indoor public spaces Impact of the built environment over the human behavior and it's surrounding
Interior spaces primarily focusing the requirements for the children.
Literature review and case study analysis
Mixed-methods study combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews
Mixed-methods approach with patient interviews and environmental assessments
Qualitative analysis of psychological theories and architectural case studies
Focuses on designing healthcare spaces that promote healing through natural light, views, and material choices.
Highlights how spatial design and aesthetics in public spaces can influence social interactions and patient comfort in healthcare settings.
Identifies spatial and environmental features that positively affect patient perceptions of healing, such as privacy, noise control, and access to nature.
Examines how spatial configurations and architectural elements can enhance a child's psychological stability and sense of security.
Healing Architecture: An Approach Towards Healing Environment
2018 Shivani Tandon, Ketan Jain
Healing architecture in healthcare settings
Comparative analysis of design elements in existing healthcare facilities
Proposes a design framework that integrates natural elements, sensory experiences, and spatial planning to create therapeutic environments.
‘Healthy Buildings’: Toward understanding user interaction with the indoor environment
Healing Spaces as a Design Approach to Optimize Emotional Regulation for Patients with Mood Disorders
2016
Camilla Brunsgaard and Lars Brorson Fich
Indoor climate, Spatial configuration and its impact on the human behavior
Quantitative and qualitative analysis with the onsite surveys and interviews
The spatial configuration impacts the stress factor, which leads to a distinct response; curvilinear & large ceiling height spaces are considered more pleasant than the rest.
2024
Shuaijie Yan, Athira Azmi, Noranita Mansor, Zhihao Wang, Yike Wang
Healing spaces and emotional regulation for mood disorders
The Impact of Architecture in the Process of Healing & WellBeing 2021
Saloni Singh, Mohammed Sabahat, Juwairia Qamrudiin
Healing BuiltEnvironment Effects on Health Outcomes: EnvironmentOccupant-Health Framework
2018
Yufan Zhang, Patricia Tzortzopoulos, Mike Kagioglou
Healing environments in architecture
Qualitative analysis, literature review
Literature review, case studies, comparative analysis of live architectural projects
Identified design elements that optimize sensory experiences, promoting emotional healing.
Architectural design can create healing spaces that enhance mental and emotional well-being, promoting recovery
Holistic framework for healing environments in healthcare
Systematic literature review of 127 papers
How do patients experience and use craft in emergency clinics? The meaning of connection: a client-arranged contextual trial investigation 2016
Stine L. Nielsen, Lars B. Fich, Kirsten K. Roessler, Michael F. Mullins
Healing arts in healthcare, patient satisfaction
Mixed methods, anthropological, user-oriented experiments in dayrooms
Three-level principles are, comfortable environment, wellfunctioning healing space, a relaxing atmosphere, and all these are interrelated. Proposes a holistic environment–occupant–health framework (E-O-H)
Art fosters an environment where patients feel secure, engage with the outside world, and maintain identity, enhancing well-being and patient satisfaction as part of holistic care.
Table1Summaryanalysisofpublishedresearchedpapers(Source:Author)
5.1 Definition
An Optimal Healing Environment (OHE) is a space designed specifically to enhance and support healing through various physical, emotional, and psychological elements. The primary focus of such environments is on reducing stress, fostering emotional well-being, and promoting recovery. They are primarily used in healthcare and mental health settings. An OHE is a holistic space where patients feel safe and supported and mentally at ease, both during treatment and the recovery process.
Figure3OptimalHealingEnvironmentframework(Source:Author)
Healing architecture incorporates various design principles that are specifically aimed at promoting emotional and psychological well-being. These components create environments that support the recovery process by addressing both physical and mental health needs. The following principles comprise the Optimal Healing Environment, and each of them will be explored in depth in subsequent sections to explain how they make therapeutic spaces.
• Sensory Processing
• Spatial Psychology
• Colour Psychology
• Materiality
• Healing Gardens
5.3 Sensory Processing
The integration of sensory components in healing environments is significant in the emotional and psychological well-being of the individual. Sensory design makes use of the five senses-sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste-to create spaces that foster relaxation, de-stress, and enhance recovery. It is by using natural light strategically, colour, soothing sounds, textures that comfort, and pleasant aromas that one can create a calming atmosphere in the healing environment. Each of
these sensory stimuli, in a holistic way, brings about an environment that serves not only the physical needs of the individual but also the psychological and emotional healing. This segment would elaborate on how such elements could be effectively introduced into therapeutic environments for recovery.
Figure4Relationshipbetweensensoryandspatialstimuluselements,healingstructuresand emotionalatmosphere(Source:Author)
Therapeutic environment, spaces, the pattern of furniture, flow, and balance between private spaces and public spaces in one setting, can really and positively influence the healing process. It reduces stress and adds a sense of security by being emotionally recovered in better-designed spaces.
A more critical concept in spatial psychology is the idea of the interplay between privacy and social interaction. It is crucial to provide areas that are both private and communal for interaction in support of diverse emotional needs. The proportions and scale of rooms and the arrangement of corridors and open areas all have a significant impact on how one feels in an environment. A layout that promotes calmness and minimizes feelings of confinement can promote comfort and psychological healing.
Figure5Comparisonoftherapyrooms&theirspatialpsychology(Source:Author)
Colour psychology is very vital in the healing environment where various colours possess attributes to induce a certain emotion or trigger a certain behavior. Healing spaces make major use of blue, green, and lavender as colours to promote healing or restoration because they are believed to reduce stress, cause relaxation, and atmosphere for recovery purposes.
The emotional impacts of the colours can be made a little clearer by Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions which associates certain colours to a proper primary emotional reaction: "the colour blue shows calm and trust," but with green, there lies this renewal and balance, the red and yellow as colours were associated with an indepth emotional requirement or emotional reaction such as excitement, being angry, required inside some therapeutic spaces designed as sites for relaxation.
With wise consideration of these colour principles, it is possible to develop environments in mental health facilities that encourage emotional wellness, diminish anxiety, and promote recovery.
Figure6Plutchik’swheelofemotions(Source:Google)
Healing architecture is concerned with materiality in the use of crafted materials in the design of therapeutic spaces. The aesthetic and emotional experience of the environment will be housed by those materials selected for walls, floors, furniture and other space decor elements. The comfort, mood and overall wellbeing will then be influenced. Natural materials, like wood, stone and clay, are traditionally employed in therapeutic environments for their appreciated, tactile warmth and nature-bound quality that induce feelings of stabling and calming.
The texture of materials also plays a critical role in how spaces are perceived. Softer, more tactile materials like plush fabric cushions invite engagement to create a cozier, safer place, whereas the cruder, colder materials tend to create discomfort or even unease. Similarly, glass or highly polished stone would indicate further user openness, providing natural light for a positive emotional exchange application due to their reflective properties.
These carefully selected materials will project a purport iconic to the therapeutic goals of such environments, making environments beautiful to the eye as well as suitable supports for the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals.
Figure7Materiality&emotions(Source:Author)
Healing gardens are therapeutic outdoor spaces which enable patients to experience the nature needed for relaxation while reducing stress and enhance the possibility of healing. These gardens specifically utilize areas such as plants, water, pathways, and seating arrangements to achieve an emotional environment well-being. Study shows that being exposed to such green space increases the mood while reducing anxiety levels thereby promoting overall psychological health significantly. Healing gardens, hence are a place of importance in therapeutic environments.
Healing gardens have shaded sittings and clear pathways with the ones that have sensory-stimulating plants, such as bright colours or nice scents, hence giving access to them for people having physical or cognitive restrictions. It provides quiet reflection opportunities, brings people together socially, and offers therapeutic activities, such as gardening.
Healing gardens have long played important roles as a segment of holistic recovery: they provide an escape out of most clinical environments, nurture emotional resilience, and foster a deep nature connection.
Figure8Interactionbetweenpatients&nature(Source:Google)
This segment presents some model mental health and wellness centers for improved understanding of design principles in enhancing therapy outcomes. Each study focuses on how different architectural strategies-integration of natural elements in the building, sensory engagement, and spatial organization-will contribute to mental health recovery. In analyzing these facilities, case studies can offer practical experience in healing architecture and its impact in creating environments conducive to psychological well-being.
Designed by renowned Architect Shirish Beri, the health care facility is located in Pune. Built in 1986, the structure conforms to the contoured landscape. The building aims to rehabilitate drug addicts into society. The enclosed amphitheatre can accommodate up to 150 people while providing much-needed light and ventilation indoors. It visually connects the various internal spaces with nature, with the help of lush, grassy steps and ivy-covered stone walls. The structure combines transparency and solidarity by the intermixing of glass windows and stone retaining walls. The common spaces are naturally lit by circular skylights. Stepped balconies run along the perimeter of the structure, providing scenic views of the Western Ghats. The vistas, common spaces and the mix of materials facilitate the experience and process of patients undergoing rehabilitation.
The focuses on holistic healing and mental well being. The architectural design focuses on the connection to nature, creating a soothing environment in an open layout, surrounded by abundant greenery. Natural materials, like wood and stone, add a warmth of comfort that makes the place contains meditation halls, therapy rooms, and open relaxed areas, all dedicated to facilitating internal balance and emotional introspection. Natural light and ventilation applied to enhance the openness of the space contribute further to mindfulness and healing.
Jiyan Healing Garden is an animal-assisted trauma therapy centre situated in Chamchamal, Kurdistan-Iraq. The 660 square metre facility was built by ZRS Architekten Ingenieure in 2016. The centre aims to aid citizens suffering from trauma caused by the continuing strife in the nation. It reinvents traditional local architecture using local materials, construction technologies, flora and fauna. A set of eleven earthen structures are arranged around a courtyard. The rooms are passively cooled with the help of thick air-dried earth brick walls and straw insulated timber roofs. The roofs extend to form porches and continue to shade the pathways connecting the varying volumes. The site is landscaped in a grid pattern to give a semblance of uniformity and symmetry.
Eutierria Wellness Center, which has been set up in Oleander Farms, Karjat, is truly a manifestation of architecture merging into nature. The facility covers an area of 17,000 sq. ft and was intended to be a place of retreat, leaving almost 90% of the land untapped. The open plan structure takes on natural materials like wood and stone, while its architecture promotes communion with the environment by its ethereal design. Inspired by the word "Eutierria," meaning oneness with the earth, the centre incorporates the central courtyard, water bodies, and great views to compose a soothing nature-infused healing space.
Figure17MasterplanofEutierria(Source: Issuu)
Figure16SitephotoofEutierria(Source: Issuu)
Karunashraya is a hospice located in Bangalore, an Indian city, that offers palliative care for terminally ill people. It aims at both the physical and emotional comfort of patients. The entire arrangement has been made to provide a calm and homely environment to all patients. With private rooms, open gardens, and quiet spaces for reflection and relaxation, the hospice provides everything any patient would like to have. In addition, it provides a calming atmosphere through natural light, soothing colours, and soft textures to patients and their families. This incorporation of nature for privacy also caters to a patient's emotional well-being during the journey towards life's end.
Figure19MasterplanofKarunashraya(Source:Google)
Figure18SitePhotoofKarunashraya (Source:Google)
The findings from the case studies are summarized in a tabulated format, highlighting the key design elements and therapeutic outcomes of each facility. The table provides a quick reference to compare various architectural strategies and their impact on mental health recovery.
Project Name Done by
Muktangan Mitra
Ar.Shirish Beri in 1988 PHC & Deaddiction centre Pune 1660
Quiet healing centre
Ar. Poppo Pingel in 1993 Wellness retreat Auroville 886
Stone Concrete
Jiyan healing Garden ZRS in 2016 Trauma Rehab Iraq 660
Bio concrete Lime mortar local bricks
The design features a tight, introverted form with controlled visual exposure. A radial circulation pattern centers around the courtyard, linking various activities.
The space includes open courtyards, natural light, and crossventilation, enhancing the therapeutic atmosphere. It blends private and communal spaces, supporting both individual and group therapies.
Air dried bricks Timber
Eutierria Wellness Centre Urban Circle in 2024 Wellness retreat Karjat, Mumbai 1580 bamboo, recycled wood, and stone.
11 earthen structures are arranged around a courtyard with a gridpatterned landscape, providing symmetry and uniformity.
Open, airy spaces, natural light, biophilic design, central courtyard, and water features for relaxation and emotional healing
Karunashraya Hospice
Mindspace Architects in 1995 Hospice Banglore 1000 wood, stone, and brick
Private rooms, open gardens, and communal spaces with natural light and ventilation to provide tranquillity.
Table2SummaryanalysisofCasestudies(Source:Author)
This survey research primarily targeted the views of mental health professionals about key issues related to therapeutic environment design. Thus, the survey sought to obtain input from professionals in the field regarding the features and elements that they consider basic in building mental health facilities.
It was intended to collect expert perceptions on privacy, natural light, green spaces, accessibility, and spatial configuration factor. Questions devised to ascertain which design features mental health professionals perceive as viable contributors to the recovery process and overall emotional wellness. The other questions posed was about their views regarding the influence of the environment on treatment outcomes.
In total, 18 responses were collected and analyzed on varied aspects of facility design as well as its effect on variables involved in patient recovery such as privacy, natural elements, sensory elements, and therapeutic activities.
• Patient Demographics: Patients within the 18–35 years age group constitute 50%, while 36–50 years comprise 27.8%, thus pointing to a mainly young patient population.
• Mental Health Conditions Treated: Depression (38.9%) and anxiety disorders (27.8%) are the most frequently treated conditions, thus underlining the requirement for specific interventions.
• Facility Design Gaps: 66.7% of respondents opined that design inadequacies, including inadequate privacy, lack of natural lighting, and excessive noise, are not conducive to recovery, which forms a strong suggestion for improvement.
• Facility Support: 44.4% rated the facility as mildly supportive of recovery, whereas 38.9% believed it offered minimal support; thus, there is scope for better patient care strategies.
• Role of Nature in Recovery: 77.8% agreed that natural elements significantly improve mood and reduce anxiety. However, 50% said that the integration of nature is inconsistent, and 16.7% said it is rare, which calls for biophilic designs.
• Environmental Stressors: Noise (33.3%), lack of privacy (27.8%), and limited social interaction (11.1%) were identified as top stressors, underlining the need for more patient-centred spaces.
• Effective Sensory Elements: Natural sounds (94.4%), soft lighting (44.4%), and soothing colours (38.9%) were reported as the effective features in creating a calm environment.
• Recovery Activities Preferred: Activities such as gardening (66.7%), exercise (50%), and art therapy (44.4%) were found to be effective for recovery from mental illness.
The survey reveals that while the facility caters to a younger demographic with prevalent conditions like depression and anxiety, there are significant gaps in design and environmental support for recovery. Strengthening nature integration, reducing stressors like noise, and enhancing access to extracurricular and sensory activities will create a more therapeutic environment conducive to mental health recovery.
8.DISCUSSION
From the literature review, case studies, and analysis of the survey, this section provides practical recommendations for designing mental health facilities that would promote therapeutic environments. The proposed design strategies are supposed to fill gaps identified in current facilities while enhancing emotional well-being and recovery outcomes. These recommendations focus on areas such as privacy, integration of nature, sensory engagement, and accessibility, offering solutions aligned with evidence-based design principles.
8.1
There are several critical issues observed with the existing mental health facilities
• Overcrowding: Spaces often lack zoning, leading to sensory overload and discomfort.
• Insufficient Natural Elements: Inaccessibility to green spaces or biophilic elements lessens the therapeutic potential.
• Privacy Constraints: Poorly designed spaces fail to provide sufficient privacy for therapy or introspection.
• Accessibility Challenges: The needs of individuals with physical or cognitive impairments are not catered to by the facilities.
• Lack of Sensory Design: Poor lighting, terrible acoustics, and inappropriate materials all increase patient stress.
8.2
To address the above gaps, the following strategies are suggested
• Inviting Entrance: Create a landscaped and supervised entryway with clear pathways to enhance accessibility and comfort.
• Maximized Daylight: Orient buildings and place windows strategically for optimal natural light, promoting recovery and reducing stress.
• Patient Control: Provide adjustable features like lighting, ventilation, and temperature controls for a personalized healing experience.
• Centralized Interactive Spaces: Position communal areas near patient rooms to foster social interaction and inclusivity.
• Open and Ventilated Spaces: Incorporate large windows and open courtyards for a sense of freedom and improved mental well-being.
• Familiarity in Design: Use warm materials, local decor, and homely elements to create a comforting, recognizable environment.
• Nature Integration: Include healing gardens, green walls, or outdoor seating areas to reduce stress and improve recovery rates.
• Intuitive Wayfinding: Use color-coded zones, distinct textures, and clear signage for stress-free navigation.
• Positive Distractions: Add artistic features like murals or sculptures to engage patients and shift focus from illness.
• Supportive Environment: Balance private therapy spaces with communal zones, ensuring comfort and inclusivity for diverse needs.
Figure20Moodboardofdesignrecommendations(Source:Author)
These targeted recommendations aim to create healing environments that actively enhance patient well-being, reduce stress, and foster faster recovery by addressing specific physical and emotional needs.
Architectural design plays the most important role in mental health recovery. Integrating biophilic elements, sensory-friendly environments, and inclusive layouts into therapeutic spaces can significantly improve emotional well-being and recovery outcomes. Thus, the research creates possible ways to treat several inadequacies, such as overcrowding, limiting natural elements, and lack of accessibility, with actionable recommendations for transforming mental health institutions into nurturing, dynamic environments.
The findings offer valuable insights for designers, policymakers, and mental health professionals, emphasizing the need to prioritize environments that support holistic recovery. Conceptualizing mental health spaces as differentiated by user-centred and evidence-based design principles can effectively help build good patient care and create links between health and wellbeing.
This research contributes to the infrastructure of mental health care by suggesting new ways to heal architecture. As society becomes increasingly conscious of the need for better mental health, all parties are called upon to ensure that environments are supportive. Further research and implementation will be widespread in bringing about a more resilient and compassionate society through improvements in mental health outcomes.
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The complete questionnaire used in the study is available through the following link: https://forms.gle/bfCUZYKcMBKcPeQG6
This section provides the full set of questions that were presented to the respondents, including both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. These questions were aimed at gathering both quantitative and qualitative data, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the survey results.