There is an ongoing crisis pertaining to mental health within the United Kingdom. This crisis has seen an increase because of Covid 19 pandemic. The rate of people surviving from mental health has increased from 1 in 6 people to 1 in 4 people.
The lack of facilities and programs to support people surviving from mental health in the city of Leicester resulted in the design of a mental health sanctuary design around the BACE framework (Body care, Achieve, Connect, Enjoy). Through the use of the arts (performing, visual and written arts), as a therapeutic activity, this scheme encourages visitors to look after their mental health. In conjunction with this, each space aims to stimulate the users’ sense through the use of textures, smells, sounds and sight.
This concept took an architectural form it a dome/bubble, a form derived from the narrative of connection as well as the notion of a spatial and social bubble. This is achieved through the extrusion of timber grid shells on Richard III Road. With the use o