Connection in Disconnection

Abstract

Historically, mental healthcare institutions in the Netherlands have been developed as isolated and monofunctional environments, often located on large estates far away from cities. Although the contemporary mental healthcare increasingly focuses on recovery, autonomy, and social inclusion, still many care sites reflect spatial structures of separation and institutionalisation. This creates a tension between the ambition to support recovery and reintegration, and the physical environments in which this care takes place.

This graduation project explores how mental healthcare sites can function as integrated healing environments for care residents, visitors and neighbourhood users, while maintaining the safety, autonomy and comfort for care residents. The focus in this project is on bipolar disorder as a specific viewpoint, because of the interesting aspect of fluctuating needs in relation to stimulation and social interaction that individuals with this disorder often experience. At the same time, within this project this perspective gets broadened towards overall mental wellbeing, arguing that environments designed for vulnerable users can also support the mental wellbeing of a wider group of users.

This research combines the methods literature review, personal observations, research through design, and feedback from experts through brainstorming sessions. The insights from these methods are translated into a pattern language that identifies spatial principles for healing environments. These patterns are organised into the three categories of Spatial Structure, Social Interaction, and Sensory Comfort. Together, they address themes such as walking, safety, orientation, seating, nature, social gradients, sensory regulation, and public-private transitions.

Eventually, patterns from the pattern language are applied to create a vision for the case study location Park Bloemendaal in The Hague. Through this design process, the concept of the Always Home Route emerges as a main spatial strategy. This is a continuous and legible walking route that creates a connection across the site between care functions, green spaces, amenities, and a new neighbourhood. While this route enhances the autonomy, predictability, and flexibility for care residents, it allows them to move independently and always return to a familiar point.

The project concludes that mental healthcare sites can become integrated healing environments when openness and inclusion are carefully balanced with spatial, social and sensory conditions. In this way, urban
design can contribute to the recovery of care residents and a broader mental wellbeing.