Description

Architectural psychology is a new field of research that investigates the impact of architecture on humans, their feelings and their behavior and has inspired us to give a more holistic approach to our design philosophy, to go towards a more human-centered design, pushing the boundaries of healthcare architecture. Architecture must confront us and communicate with us on psychic and emotional levels, as well as visual and intellectual. Architecture generates shelter not only for our body but especially our mind, it goes beyond form and construction and affects us much more than we think. Spaces determine our behavior and most of the time without our conscious perception. They have an indirect effect on our senses, which influences our thinking, feelings, actions and therefore our entire body. So our main goal is to use architectural techniques and strategies to create the right atmosphere that alters the healing process.

We use this research as a strong basis to propose our concept idea of a Retreat Center design for emotional and mental recovery, social connection, and a magic-mix co-living (people of different ages living together, interacting and taking care of each-other). Our design proposal is located at the extention of the Groene Loper in Maastricht, a very nice area not too far away from the city center that has a great potential to become more and more alive, providing this way new functions and facilities for the residents of the city. We chose the word ‘retreat’ because it describes best the core concept of our design, takes away the rigidity and institutional approach of the healthcare environment and gives more power to the human sensitivity. The main meaning of the word ‘retreat’ is related to a place of privacy and safety, a place where people can withdrawal from what is difficult and unbearable, a place for reflection and renewal, a new structure we choose to follow to get in touch to who we truly are and clarify what we truly value, a positive re-connection.

We designed an introverted building in which everything, the whole movement happen on the inside, on its core, and that core becomes a source for connection and gives light to its hidden extroverted side. The central greenhouse serves as an air filter, moderates temperatures, reduces energy usage, improves health, motivation, productivity, serves as a positive distraction for the visitors, as a place to wonder, interact and meditate. On the exterior, we organize the volume in green terraces that are placed from high to low towards south and in the direction of the Groene Loper. These terraces serve as social outdoor meeting points that connect to the indoor recreation areas and to the central greenhouse.

Through our design we were aiming to give people the feeling of freedom, despite being enclosed, the feeling of being outdoors despite of being inside, to create a space that supports the healing process and doesn’t go against it, that promotes motivation, and strengthen people’s sense of self-esteem and satisfaction.