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Design for mental health : integrating daylight and nature into campus spaces

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Stressed Spaces: Mental Health and Architecture, a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: To present a comprehensive review of the research literature on the effects of the architectural designs of mental health facilities on the users. BACKGROUND: Using a team of cross-disciplinary researchers, this review builds upon previous reviews on general and geriatric healthcare design in order to focus on research undertaken for mental health care facility design. METHODS: Sources were gathered in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 a broad search was undertaken across health and architecture; in 2011, using keywords and 13 databases, researchers conducted a systematic search of peer reviewed literature addressing mental health care and architectural design published between 2005 to 2012, as well as a systematic search for academic theses for the period 2000 to 2012. Recurrent themes and subthemes were identified and numerical data that emerged from quantitative studies was tabulated. RESULTS: Key themes that emerged were nursing stations, light, therapeutic milieu, security, privacy, designing for the adolescent, forensic facilities, interior detail, patients’ rooms, art, dementia, model of care, gardens, post-occupancy evaluation, and user engagement in design process. Of the 165 articles (including conference proceedings, books, and theses), 25 contained numerical data from empirical studies and 7 were review articles. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the review results, especially the growing evidence of the benefits of therapeutic design on patient and staff well-being and client length of stay, additional research questions are suggested concerning optimal design considerations, designs to be avoided, and the involvement of major stakeholders in the design process. KEYWORDS: Evidence-based design, hospital, interdisciplinary, literature review, post-occupancy

Related papers

Health Environments Research Design Journal, 2013

Objective: To present a comprehensive review of the research literature on the effects of the architectural designs of mental health facilities upon the users. Background: Using a team of cross disciplinary researchers, this review builds upon previous reviews on general and geriatric health care design in order to focus upon research undertaken for mental health care facility design. Methods: Sources were gathered in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 a broad search was undertaken across health and architecture; in 2011, using keywords listed below and 13 databases, researchers conducted a systematic search of peer reviewed literature addressing mental health care and architectural design published between 2005 to 2012, as well as a systematic search for academic theses for the period 2000 to 2012. Recurrent themes and sub themes were identified and numerical data that emerged from quantitative studies was tabulated. Results: Key themes that emerged were: nursing stations; light; therapeutic milieu; security; privacy; designing for the adolescent; forensic facilities; interior detail; patients’ rooms; art; dementia; model of care; gardens; post occupancy evaluation; user engagement in design process. Of the 165 articles (including conference proceedings, books and theses), 25 contain numerical data from empirical studies and 7 are review articles. Conclusions: Based on the review results, especially the growing evidence of the benefits of therapeutic design upon patient and staff well-being and client length of stay, additional research questions are suggested concerning optimal design considerations, designs to be avoided, and the involvement of major stakeholders in the design process.

To present a comprehensive review of the research literature on the effects of the architectural designs of mental health facilities on the users.BACKGROUND: Using a team of cross-disciplinary researchers, this review builds upon previous reviews on general and geriatric healthcare design in order to focus on research undertaken for mental health care facility design.METHODS: Sources were gathered in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 a broad search was undertaken across health and architecture; in 2011, using keywords and 13 databases, researchers conducted a systematic search of peer reviewed literature addressing mental health care and architectural design published between 2005 to 2012, as well as a systematic search for academic theses for the period 2000 to 2012. Recurrent themes and subthemes were identified and numerical data that emerged from quantitative studies was tabulated.RESULTS: Key themes that emerged were nursing stations, light, therapeutic milieu, security, privacy, designin...

Therapeutic architecture can be described as the people-centered, evidence-based discipline of the built environment, which aims to identify and support ways of incorporating those spatial elements that interact with people physiologically and psychologically into design. Architecture is an important factor in people's lives when they are well; when they experience ill-health and are less able to cope it becomes even more important. This book explores the design of specialized residential architecture for people with mental health problems. It sets out to show how building design can support medical and health related procedures and practices, leading to better therapeutic outcomes and an enhanced quality of life. Based on almost two decades of research, it aims to understand how architectural design interacts with the therapeutic milieu, the care programs, and actually living in the spaces. The book is divided into two main parts covering theory and research. Part one consists of three chapters: a brief introduction to old practices, current medical psychosocial and architectural thinking, and alternative thinking. Part two explores the research and conclusions derived from fieldwork. This book provides a fascinating insight into the effect that architectural design can have on all of us, but particularly on those with mental health problems.

General Hospital Psychiatry, 1998

Psychiatric Services, 2013

Facilities, 2010

"Purpose: Perhaps nowhere is the significance of architectural design greater than for psychiatric care facilities. There’s a strong correlation between perceptual dysfunction and psychiatric illness, and also between the patient and his environment. As such, even minor design choices can be highly consequent in a psychiatric facility. It’s of critical importance, therefore, that a psychiatric milieu is sympathetic and doesn’t exacerbate the psychosis. Design methodology: To analyse architectural elements that may influence mental health using an architectural extrapolation of Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, which states that better health results from a state of mind which has a fortified sense of coherence. According to the theory, a sense of coherence is fostered by a patient’s ability to find meaning, to comprehend the environment (comprehensibility) and to be effective in his actions (manageability). Findings: Saltogenic theory can be extrapolated in an architectural context to inform design choices when designing for a stress sensitive client base. Practical implications: The design of mental health facilities has long been dominated by unsubstantiated policy and normative opinions that don’t always serve the client population. This method establishes a practical theoretical model for generating architectural design guidelines for health mental health facilities. Originality/value: Firstly, salutogenic theory is a useful framework for improving health outcomes, but in the past the theory has never been applied in a methodological way. Secondly there have been few insights into how the architecture itself can improve the functionality of a mental health facility other than improve the secondary functions of hospital services."

Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2019

The pluralism that characterized the development of psychiatric services around the world created a variety of policies, care models and building types, and fostered experimental approaches. Increased complexities of care, institutional remnants, stigma, and the limited diagnostic and interventional accuracy of psychiatric treatments resulted in institutional behaviors surviving, even in newly built facilities. This was raised by research on awarded psychiatric buildings. The locus of the research comprised two acute psychiatric wards in London. Each was evaluated using the SCP model, a tool specifically developed for the evaluation of mental health facilities, identifying the relation between policy, care regime, and patient-focused environment. Data were derived from plans, visits, and staff and patient interviews. Findings were juxtaposed to those of an earlier study using the same methodology. Also, a syntactic analysis was conducted, to identify the social logic of ward layouts...

This paper will specifically look at the impact of interior architecture on mental recovery; this being the actual structure and build of the inside of the establishment, as well as decorative and functional furnishings and components.Interior Architecture is the ‘design of a space which has been created by structural boundaries and the human interaction within these boundaries.’ The use of mental-health will cover the broad variety of issues, ranging from depression, to anger management and so forth, allowing the exploration of how approaches may differ from another in terms of effectiveness, depending on what the facility tailors to.

Objective-The research set to identify integrated methodologies for the design, planning and evaluation of psychiatric facilities in the community. Background-De-institutionalisation resulted in care delivered in the community. Smaller-scale facilities, varying in terms of regime and place in the system, covered a broader spectrum of patients' needs, in a more comprehensive manner. This created an experimental network of psychiatric buildings in the community. These presented considerable variations both in architectural design and in care provision requirements. Research question-In this complex context, how could we create a model that would: enable the planning, the design and the evaluation of psychiatric be flexible to use in such a variant framework be comprehensive enough to cover the various needs of the patient throughout the uneven path of recovery? Methods-The research explored the concepts that dominated the thinking behind psychiatric treatments and care. It explored how these concepts influenced the design of psychiatric facilities and draw major themes in connection to their relation to treatment frameworks. These themes were synthesised in a model that could depict the main concepts and translate them in a specialised design decision-making tool [1]. This tool formed the grid of a purposely-designed, parametric checklist that could classify psychiatric buildings according to their institutional vs domestic elements. Also, a set of open-ended questionnaires aimed for staff and patients' views. These questionnaires could triangulate the user perspective to the initial theoretical model. The new tool was tested in two countries, in ten facilities with a sample of 115 patients and staff. Fifteen years later, the study was repeated in a second smaller sample that focused on the most acute spectrum of provision but which was also juxtaposed to spatial analysis [2]. Results-Both the theoretical model with their corresponding methodologies, i.e., patient and staff views, and the checklist when juxtaposed, tended to support each-other. Contrary, the spatial analysis was coming at odds with what was happening in the wards and with the other two methodologies. Conclusion-Methodologies that were incorporating principles of non-architectural frameworks, in these cases the care models for mental illness, seemed to be more comprehensive and sensitive to the healthcare context, in this case psychiatric environments, than more generic architectural frameworks. This could be related to changes in the perception and physiology that relate to an illness and therefore, might require a more specialised approach for planning, design and evaluation.

Bir Başka Din Tasavvuf, 2017

Antiquity, 2024

Gestalt, 2008

IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2016

NeuroReport, 2007

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Remote Sensing of Environment, 2019

Toshi keikaku rombunshū, 2011

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), 2022

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 2013

Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2021

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Home > Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences > Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses > 511

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The effect of architecture and design on mental health and implications for open art studios.

Alyssa Chappe Follow

Date of Award

Spring 5-22-2021

Document Type

Degree name.

MA - Master of Arts

Expressive Therapies

Elizabeth Kellogg

In this literature review I will discuss the history of architecture and design in the mental health field. I investigate what has been studied on how different aspects of design, such as safety and security, noise and external stressors, space and interior layout, nature, lighting and atmosphere, art, community, and the therapeutic milieu all impacts mental health. With the understanding of these aspects, I explore the importance of and how to utilize purpose-built design in open art studio spaces. Incorporating elements such as natural lighting, open floor plans, private and open community spaces, artwork, safety procedures, and nature/views of nature, provides a supportive environment for clients’ well-being and treatment.

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Chappe, Alyssa, "The Effect of Architecture and Design on Mental Health and Implications for Open Art Studios" (2021). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses . 511. https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/511

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A Remedy for Wilting: Therapeutic Architecture for Restoring the Mental Health of University Students

Laura mckeown.

In 2018 the New Zealand Government released the Kei Te Pai? and He Ara Oranga reports, which emphasised the immediate need for better mental health support systems around the country. University students' mental health has long been in a state of crisis. This thesis stems from a need to challenge conventional mental health care and establish architecture which prompts interventions at the early stages of loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression, as opposed to the current 'bottom of the cliff interventions' - a system that can lead to self-harm and suicide.

Inspired by Maggie Keswick Jencks's description of 'wilted people', ' A Remedy for Wilting'  compares the wilting of plants under poor environmental conditions with the mental states of university staff and students. This metaphor recognises that mental health is fluid and continually transforming. Hence, our healthcare architecture should address people at every stage of mental wellness and realise people's unique health needs. The proposed respite centre sits on the foundations of Old Government House at the University of Auckland City Campus - one of the few green spaces rich in heritage, in an otherwise concrete jungle. By interweaving with nature, the design stands as a three-stage triage system which meets students' everyday mental health, long-term counselling and crisis support needs. This thesis takes the stance that although architecture alone cannot cure mental illness, it can create opportunities for various forms of healing and establish conditions for forming positive social connections. The triage system follows a series of patterns to assist the recovery of those who are wilting: those feeling the effects of stress, anxiety and in danger of self-harm. Inspired by Christopher Alexander's 'A Pattern Language', the patterns in this project respond to social behaviours exhibited by people experiencing anxiety, loneliness, depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation. In creating a user-centred design, the architecture strives to establish environments where people feel safe to ask for help.

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