Chandler Philpott | The Labyrinth of Experience

THE LABYRINTH OF EXPERIENCE LIMINALITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARCHITECTURE AND MIND

Chandler Philpott, M.Arch

ABSOLUTE MIND

PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE

LIMINAL

ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE

ABSOLUTE ARCHITECTURE

REAL

Consider the abstraction of the idea of the ‘liminal’ or transitional space in rites of passage to an idea of a relative disciplinary space between any two concepts. This abstraction draws a parallel between the idea of subjective experience in general and the specific idea of designing to accommodate this at the intersection between architecture and clinical psychiatric practice.

The archetype of the labyrinth is demonstrated (in western culture) to be a robust symbol of subjective experience for both architecture and psychiatry, and is selected as the top-down, narrative-driven model for spatialization of the practical interface between the two. For the bottom-up, objective-driven model, a five-aspect description of salutogenic design [mazzi 2020] is taken to support the differentiation of physical space. These five aspects are: self efficacy; relaxation response; sense of coherence; biophilia; prospect and refuge.

The investigation of the central issue from complementary perspectives leads to the development of a theoretical architectural ‘machine,’ which should support effective treatment of psychological distress: the labyrinth.

LIMINALITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARCHITECTURE AND MIND

DETERMINATE

DETERMINATE + COMPREHENSIVE

COMPREHENSIVE

THE LABYRINTH NAVIGATES INDETERMINACY

[REAL, THOUGHT TO BE DAEDALUS’ LABYRINTH]

ARCHITECTURE: THE PALACE AT KNOSSOS

A PLAN OF THE PALACE AT KNOSSOS [ATTRIBUTION NEEDED]

A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PALACE AT KNOSSOS [AUTHOR UNKNOWN]

THE LABYRINTH SYMBOL ON A COIN KNOSSOS, GREECE | 200 - 67 BCE

THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR MAÎTRE DES CASSONI CAMPANA | CA. 1500 CE

THE LABYRINTH: THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE?

DAEDALUS CHARLES GRAFLY | 1889

MIND: THE MINOAN LABYRINTH [DESIGNED BY DAEDALUS, MYTHICAL?]

MINOTAUR CAGE ?

OR

LIMINAL STAGE?

ONE MYTH, TWO LABYRINTHS

SETTING

LABYRINTH

PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY

MONASTERY

RETREAT CENTER

SPA RESORT

YOUR M HOU

FORM

FOLDED PATH

UNIT, HOSPITAL

COMPOUND

VARIED

VARIED

HOM

SUBJECT

THESEUS

PATIENT

NOVICE, GUEST

WEARY PERSON

PERSON OF MEANS

YO

OBSTACLE

MINOTAUR

DISTRESS, DISORDER

LOW SPIRIT

DISENCHANTMENT

EXHAUSTION, TOO MUCH MONEY

UNSPE

GUIDE

ARIADNE

COUNSELOR, DOCTOR

MONK

HOLISTIC PRACTITIONER

STAFF

YOUR

ORIENTING FRAMEWORK

ARIADNE’S THREAD

PSCYCHIATRIC PRACTICE

MONASTIC LIFE, RELIGION

HOLISTIC PRACTICE

RELAXATION

IT’S YOUR HOU

THE PROGRAM OF THE MYTH

[UNUSUAL]

ARRRIVES IN A RESTRAINT IMMINENT RISK OF HARM

RESTRAINT CONTINUES 24HR 1:1 STAFF SUPERVISION

IMMINENT RISK OF HARM [NO RESTRAINT]

CONFINED TO ISOLATION ROOM 24HR 1:1 STAFF SUPERVISION

HIGH RISK OF HARM IMMEDIATE

CONFINED TO THE UNIT 5-MIN SAFETY CHECKS

MEDIUM RISK OF HARM NOT IMMEDIATE

CONFINED TO THE UNIT 15-MIN SAFETY CHECKS

LOW RISK OF HARM

OFF-UNIT TRAVEL WITH STAFF 15-MIN SAFETY CHECKS

LOW RISK OF HARM PERSISTENT

OFF UNIT TRAVEL WITH FAMILY 15-MIN SAFETY CHECKS

DISCHARGE

DISCHARGE WITH AFTERCARE PLAN PARTIAL [WEEKDAY] PROGRAM POSSIBLE

READMISSION

NOTE: THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS BASED ON MY RECOLLECTION. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE PERFECTLY ACCURATE, IT DOES REFLECT THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF UNIT OPERATIONS.

ON UNIT GROUPS: EXPRESSIVE THERAPY QI GONG MEDICATION MANAGEMENT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS STRESS MANAGEMENT

OFF UNIT GROUPS: NATURE WALK HORTICULTURAL THERAPY RECREATION CENTER FITNESS CENTER PORCH TIME [INFORMAL]

START AT “HIGH RISK” STANDARDS BUT EASILY ADJUSTED BY TREATMENT TEAM

INCREMENTAL RELAXATION OF APPLIED DETERMINACY AS MODE OF EFFECT IN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE

BASE UNIT

PATH IS LOCALLY 1-D

CLASSICAL TOPOLOGY

TOPOLOGY DRIVES EXPERIENCE EXTERNAL | LIMINAL | INTERNAL

DETERMINATE TOPOLOGY = DETERMINATE RHTYHM

WHAT IS THE LABYRINTH?

SIMPLE TOPOLOGY DETERMINATE

ADD PROXIMITIES SUBVERTED

DISTORT / REPEAT GENERATE FORM SUBVERSIONS IN A DETERMINATE FORM

PRIORITIES OF SALUTOGENIC DESIGN: RELAXATION RESPONSE SELF EFFICACY

LABYRINTH WALKING IS MEDIATIVE INCREMENTAL RETRACTION OF DETERMINACY ACCOUNTED FOR BY PROGRAM

PROSPECT & REFUGE SENSE OF COHERENCE BIOPHILIA

ENCLOSURE / EXPOSURE SIMPLICITY / COMPLEXITY SYNTHETIC / NATURAL SIGNALING IN 3-D SPACE

HIGH / NEUTRAL / LOW EXPRESSION OF SIGNALS

SALUTOGENESIS USED TO SIGNAL POSITION IN 3D SPACE

COMPLEXITY

HIGH

PLAIN SPACE EXHIBITION | JOHN PAWSON | 2010

PARISH HOUSE ST. JOSEF | MARTIN SAARINEN | 2010

IL TEATRINO | TADAO ANDO | 2013

GATEHOUSE FOR NOTRE DAME DU HAUT | RENZO PIANO | 2011

EARTH HOUSE | BCHO ARCHITECTS | 2009

THERMES VALS | PETER ZUMTHOR | 1996

MUSÉE DU VIN | GILLES PERRAUDIN |2011

WELLNESSPARK ELSE-CLUB SAUNA | 4A ARCHITEKTEN | 2007

WINDOWS OF THE EARTH | RA PAULETTE | 1996

HIGH

BIOPHILIA

LOW

LOW

LOW EXPOSURE

PRECEDENTS FOR SALUTOGENIC SIGNALS

COMPLEXITY

HIGH

GALLERY AT UK ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS | DAVID CHIPPERFIELD | 2018

CAMPUS JOACHIMSTRASSE | DAVID CHIPPERFIELD | 2007

SCHRÖDER HOUSE | GERRIT RIETVELD | 1924

NUOVA SEDE DELLA SCUOLA PER L’EUROPA | ZERMANI E ASSOCIATI | 2019

SAINT BENEDICT CHAPEL | PETER ZUMTHOR | 1988

BIOSCLEAVE HOUSE | ARAKAWA + GINS | 2008

CLOISTER HOUSE | MORQ | 2018

HOTEL CLICK CLACK | PLAN B ARQUITECTOS | 2012

WINTER GARDEN AT HÔTEL VAN EETVELDE| VICTOR HORTA | 1900

HIGH

BIOPHILIA

LOW

LOW

MODERATE EXPOSURE

PRECEDENTS FOR SALUTOGENIC SIGNALS

COMPLEXITY

HIGH

GLASS PAVILION AT TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART | SANAA | 2006

FABRIKSTRASSE 28 | TADAO ANDO | 2010

SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY | OMA | 2004

VILLA TUGENDHAT | LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE | 1930

SOUTH LAKE UNION HEADQUARTERS | OLSON KUNDIG | [DATE NEEDED]

FONDATION LOUIS VUITTTON | GEHRY PARTNERS | 2014

GARDEN ROOM | ATELIER JANDA VANDERGHOTE | 2012

JOHN DEERE HEADQUARTERS | EERO SAARINEN | 1964

JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT | SAFDIE | 2018

HIGH

BIOPHILIA

LOW

LOW

HIGH EXPOSURE

PRECEDENTS FOR SALUTOGENIC SIGNALS

PROSPECT & REFUGE [AS EXPOSURE]

BIOPHILIA

SITE & STRATEGY

SENSE OF COHERENCE [AS URBAN COMPLEXITY]

CITY CENTER BY AREA

86% CITY AREA WITHIN 5 MILES

PROJECT SITE in MOUNT AUBURN

+ NORWOOD, ST. BERNARD

DOWNTOWN BASIN

2.5 mi

5 mi

CINCINNATI, OHIO

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

INWOOD PARK

I H O

O

RI

I V R VE

EW

S

D E H

THE CHRIST HOSPITAL

DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS

N

0’

50’

100’

200’

500’

SITE TOTAL 105,775 SF [2.42 ACRE]

SITE AS UNDIFFERENTIATED 2D SPACE

COMPLEMENTARY DETERMINATE PATHS WITH EXTENDED TOPOLOGY

180˚

90˚

270˚

0˚

360˚

270˚

180˚

90˚

RECTANGULAR TOPOLOGY OF CHARTRES LABYRINTH RADIAL PROJECTIONS

0˚ BASE TOPOLOGY UNIT TOPOLOGY EXTENSIONS

BASE TOPOLOGY FROM CHARTRES CATHEDRAL

CHARTRES TOPOLOGY , WITH TOPOLOGICAL SUBVERSION

BASIC FORM FROM CHARTRES TOPOLOGY

SITE + MASS

BASIC DIAGRAM

OFFSET + TORQUE

MODIFIED MASSING

RE-INTRODUCE PATH

TOPOLOGICAL SUBVERSIONS

FLOOR PLATES CONNECT TO PATH

FORM FROM DIAGRAM

THE FACILITY

N

0’

25’

50’

100’

250’

SITE SECTION

N

0’

25’

50’

100’

250’

SITE PLAN

N

0’

10’

25’

50’

100’

FACILITY SECTION

VIEW FROM LOWER SITE

CHAPEL INTERIOR

EXIT FROM TUNNEL UNDER MAIN FACILITY

CONSTRUCTED LANDSCAPE IN CLOISTER

The serious problems in life ... are never fully solved. If ever they should appear to be so it is a sure sign that something has been lost. The meaning and purpose of a problem seem to lie not in its solution but in our working at it incessantly.

- Carl Jung

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