Healing Design

,

2020

The impact of (interior) architecture on our health by using the example of a psychiatric clinic.

#StudioScenography #Master-Thesis

What if (interior) architecture would be designed to support our health and wellbeing? Healing Design - a thesis that aims to explore the effect of interior architecture and scenography on our health. The symbiosis of design and health is shown with the intention to support health-conscious design. The research on design parameters that influence our mental and physical health is accompanied by the participative exhibition «sensorium» to allow a broader audience access to the topic by experiencing it personally.

Sensorium the laboratory is an interactive and multi-sensory exhibition which makes effects of spatial design elements mentally and physically perceptible. Seven rooms allow visitors to immerse into various settings addressing not only their senses, but intend to make the influence of our spatial surrounding experiencable. Two of these are given an idea of topic and spatial elements but will be designed curatorial with the influences of other designers, for example Sissel Tolaas who is a designer and researcher on the field of olfaction.

Visitors explore the effect of design parameters on the human psyche, body, and overall well-being. The exhibition offers natural elements like a wild garden, and water, sound, scent, various materials, and spatial dimensions. Visitors can evaluate experience-spaces afterwards since their perception is based on personal preferences.

The visitors should be shown the effect of the design parameters on the human psyche, behavior and wellbeing. The archictronic shell and interior design of a psychiatry, as it is analyzed in the written thesis, is thematized in a more general context for the public and made experiencable. The intention is to value the laboratory as a source of inspiration for healing design and the implementation of used design factors.

Visitors experience a journey through the laboratory providing triggers for several senses. In an accessable, moving exhibition they become part of an installation that addresses factors like odour, vision, touch sound, temperature and many more.

The octagonal form with a central room in its middle allows coordination of visitors to revisit this room and evaluate what has been perceived so far since all experience-spaces affiliate to the central «Room of Choice».

Mentors:

Prof. Uwe R. Brückner

, Studio Scenography & Exhibition Design

Ruth Scheel, Martina Ehleiter

, Studio Scenography & Exhibition Design

Ralf Michel

, Studio Integrative Design