Psyche & Space
Mental illnesses are a prevalent issue for many individuals – more than a quarter of the population in Germany will experience them at some point in their lives. The number of outpatient and inpatient treatments is also on the rise, with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbating this trend. While mental illnesses were heavily stigmatized in the past, there's now a growing openness surrounding matters of mental health. The architecture of psychiatric care facilities has also evolved significantly in recent decades, with increasing attention placed on the aspect of promoting recovery through the built environment for patients.
In the context of the ARCH4HEALTH Student Research Labs in the summer semester of 2023, fifteen students collaboratively worked on establishing and compiling the scientific foundations for designing psychiatric and psychosocial facilities for individuals with mental illnesses. In partnership with the "Sächsischen Staatsministerium für Soziales und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt", exemplary facilities including social psychiatric services, integration assistance providers, psychiatric hospitals, and forensic clinics were visited. During these visits, operations were analyzed from the perspectives of both patients and staff.
The resulting architectural questions were investigated by the students in their seminar work using appropriate scientific methods, leading to the development of conceptual ideas for implementation in construction. Finally, these individual concept developments were consolidated into a joint publication. This publication can serve as a source of knowledge and inspiration for planners in facilitating recovery-oriented and secure designs for psychiatric facilities in the future.
The collection with the results of the student research projects can be viewed here or downloaded via Qucosa.
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Contact Person for Requests
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Research Associate and PhD Student
NameCarolina Kolodziej M.Sc.
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Chair of Social and Health Care Buildings and Design
Visiting address:
BZW, 1. OG Raum B111 Zellescher Weg 17
01069 Dresden