Art therapy center

Silesian University of Technology, (Politechnika Śląska), Faculty of Architecture, Gliwice

Project idea

Engineering thesis project
Type of project: Hospitality building
Location: Blackburn, Great Britain

The idea of this project is the problem of psychological health. Many psychological do not offer the possibilities to approach and treat patients using new methods one of which is Art therapy. Who is it aimed for?
People dealing with
-anxiety
-intellectual disabilities
-chronic stress etc.
How does it work?
People who are dealing withpsychological problems such as the ones mentioned above are communicating and expressing their feelings, through broadly understood art such as:- sculpture
- painting
- drawing
- dancing
- singing
- and others

Project description

The subject of this project is the conceptual design of the Art Therapy Center. The designed building was located on a given plot in Pleasington, on the outskirts of Blackburn in Great Britain.
Art therapy is a modern and dynamically developing form of psychological therapy. It is aimed at people struggling with problems such as chronic stress or anxiety. It is about expressing yourself through art instead of words. In this case, art is very broadly understood, and the sessions of such therapy conducted in groups, or individually, do not limit it only to painting or drawing, but they allow the patient to manifest themselves through sculpture, singing, dance and other types of art.
Before starting the project, I got acquainted with the concept of art therapy in detail, its impact on humans, and the needs of patients. Additionally, the area where the plot was located was analysed. The environment is always an important element in shaping architecture. In this case, the surroundings are a quiet neighbourhood, with a small number of single-family houses bathed in greenery.
Based on the guidelines created thanks to the analyses, a two-story building was designed, inspired by nature and directly related to it both with the shape and the introduction of greenery to the facades of the building, as well as to its interior in the form of internal courtyards allowing for internal opening and constituting a reference point for people with mental problems. The building has functions such as catering, hotel, therapeutic, as well as public in the form of a general accessible gallery.

Technical information

The construction of the building is mainly reinforced concrete covered by green roof accessible for all building users. Building was divided to a few construction modules due to organic shape and big open spaces. Building facade was parametrically designed in layers - main wall and climbing plants frame which provide constant contact with greenery from the inside out and the other way around. It helps to cool the building during hot days and to keep the heat when cold days come. Despite that it also allows to keep privacy inside without resigning from natural lightening.

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