CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION IN LVIV

Project idea

The primary concept of the project was to create an Oasis of Tranquility for people struggling with war trauma in Ukraine. This is a place that heals the soul simply through its existence. Mental health is easy to break but hard to rebuild. We aim to support people on their journey to recovery and a return to normal life.

The design of the Rehabilitation and Residential Center was inspired by the need to provide a serene and restorative environment for those affected by the conflict. The facility integrates various elements to create a holistic healing experience:

Calming Architecture: The building's design emphasizes open spaces, natural light, and soothing colors to promote a sense of peace and well-being. The use of glass and open interior layouts connects the indoor space with the surrounding natural environment, fostering a sense of freedom and harmony.

Therapeutic Landscapes: Surrounding the building are carefully designed gardens and green spaces that offer a natural sanctuary for reflection and relaxation. The landscape includes a mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers that change with the seasons, providing a dynamic and ever-evolving environment that symbolizes growth and renewal.

Comprehensive Care: The center offers a wide range of therapeutic services, from individual counseling and group therapy sessions to physical rehabilitation and recreational activities. Each aspect of the facility is designed to address the multifaceted needs of individuals recovering from trauma.

Community Integration: Recognizing the importance of social support in the healing process, the center includes communal spaces such as lounges, dining areas, and recreational facilities where residents can connect with each other and build supportive relationships.

Holistic Approach: In addition to traditional therapeutic methods, the center incorporates alternative therapies such as art therapy, music therapy, and mindfulness practices. These activities provide residents with creative outlets and coping mechanisms to help them process their experiences and emotions.

Sustainability: The design incorporates sustainable practices to ensure a minimal environmental footprint. Energy-efficient systems, renewable energy sources, and the use of locally sourced materials reflect a commitment to environmental stewardship and the well-being of future generations.

Our vision is to create a haven where those affected by war can find peace, support, and a path to healing. By providing a nurturing and supportive environment, we aim to help individuals rebuild their mental health and reclaim control over their lives.

Project description

The project was developed as part of the Architectural Design course in the sixth semester of studies. The location and function of the facility were predetermined.

The Psychological Rehabilitation Center was designed in the northwestern part of Lviv and consists of six main sections, each with a distinct function:
• Central Glass Section - Entrance Function: includes a reception area and access to the mezzanine, which serves as a waiting area for the rehabilitation section.
• Right Wing - Rehabilitation Function: contains the medical and rehabilitation area.
• Left Wing - Administrative Function: houses offices and a cafeteria located on the ground floor.
• Rear, Tallest Wing - Residential Function: offers temporary accommodation for patients.
• Rear, Right Wing - Recreational Function - Greenhouse: features a chill-out zone and a passage from the residential section to the rehabilitation section.
• Sports Function with Amphitheater: includes a 30x15 m sports field with facilities and seating. This is a separate building located south of the Rehabilitation Center. The western facade of the Sports Hall has an outdoor stage for various performances and activities for both patients and residents of the entire planned housing estate.

Under the Rehabilitation Center building, there is an underground parking area with numerous storage rooms and technical facilities. The building's facades are made of beige clinker brick, giving the structure a subtle form. Surrounding the Center is a planned housing estate consisting of numerous residential quarters.

Given the current geopolitical situation in the world, there is a clear need to establish the aforementioned Center to assist victims of ongoing conflicts. Individuals struggling with war trauma should have access to a place where they can receive help with issues they cannot manage on their own.

Technical information

Construction Description
Rehabilitation and Residential Building
The building is designed with a mixed post-and-wall structure in a masonry-monolithic technology, with prefabricated elements. It is a six-story building with a basement (the underground floor is heated) and a flat, non-ventilated roof. The maximum height of the building is 18 meters, classifying it as a mid-rise building (SW). The building features an underground level beneath part of it. The above-ground portion consists of five dilated segments (5 cm structural joints):

Administrative Wing (A): Axis 1-4 and F-J, with a longitudinal wall structure on a rectangular plan measuring 16 x 13.2 meters in axis; three floors, including the basement; height of 7.6 meters to the top edge of the passive flat roof; dilatation joint between axis 4 and 4’.
Residential Wing (M): Axis 4’-9 and A-D’, with a longitudinal wall structure on a rectangular plan measuring 16.5 x 25.2 meters and an overhanging part supported on beams between axis D’ and E; six floors, including the basement; height of 18 meters to the top edge of the flat roof; dilatation joint at the underground parking level between axis D and D’.
Clinic Wing (P): Axis 9’-13 and F-J, with a mixed post-and-wall structure on a rectangular plan measuring 22.6 x 13.9 meters; four floors, including the basement; height of 11.1 meters to the top edge of the flat roof; dilatation joint between axis 9 and 9’.
Entrance Wing (W): Axis 4’-9 and E-J, with a post structure on a square plan measuring 16.5 x 16.5 meters; one floor plus a mezzanine at level +1; height of 11.1 meters to the top edge of the glass roof structure; dilatation joint from wings A, M, and P.
Greenhouse Wing (S): Axis 9-13 and A-F, with a post structure on a plan of two perpendicular rectangles measuring 11.5 x 8.6 meters (axis 9-11 and A-B) and 31.2 x 11.5 meters (axis 11-13 and A-G); one floor plus a mezzanine at level +1; height of 10.5 meters to the top edge of the glass roof structure.
Foundations: The building is founded on a reinforced concrete box with a thickness of 50 cm, except for wing S, where columns are supported on 100 x 100 cm footings with a height of 50 cm at a depth of 1 meter.

Walls:

Basement: Monolithic load-bearing external walls with a thickness of 50 cm; fire escape staircase load-bearing walls with a thickness of 25 cm; partition walls made of blocks with a thickness of 22 cm; monolithic load-bearing dilatation walls with a thickness of 40 cm.
Floors 0-4: Monolithic three-layer external load-bearing walls with a thickness of 51 cm; monolithic load-bearing fire escape staircase walls with a thickness of 25 cm; partition walls made of blocks with a thickness of 22 cm; light skeletal structure partition walls made of steel profiles with gypsum board cladding with a thickness of 15 cm.
Columns: Solid monolithic columns with dimensions of 50 x 50 cm in sections A and M at level -1, and 60 x 60 cm in section P at levels -1 and 0, while at levels 1 and 2, solid monolithic columns measure 30 x 30 cm. In section S, steel columns are made of HEB 300 profiles.

Ceilings: Densely reinforced transfer slab above the underground parking with a thickness of 70 cm and an axis spacing from 4.1 m to 7.5 m. Inter-floor ceilings are made of prestressed hollow-core slabs with a thickness of 30 cm. Above the entrance area and greenhouse, a truss system is planned: five trusses with a length of 17 m and a height of 150 cm spaced approximately 4 m apart for the entrance area; for the greenhouse (S), truss spans range from 8.2 m to 14 m, truss height is 120 cm, spacing from 5.5 m to 8.2 m.

Beams, girders, "mushrooms": Monolithic beams on the underground level measure 40 x 50 cm, supported on monolithic columns with an axis spacing from 4 to 7.5 m. On the remaining floors in sections W and P, beams measure 20 x 30 cm with spacings from 4 to 6 m. On the ground floor in section P, there are columns with a diameter of 60 cm with "mushrooms" measuring 200 x 200 cm and a height of 30 cm, spaced 5.5 m apart, supporting the cantilevered Clinic wing (P).

Roof: Densely ribbed flat roof with a span up to 7.5 m, ventilated, covered with gravel above section M with a thickness of 50 cm; above sections A and P, the flat roof is covered with a vegetative layer with a total thickness of 70 cm; above sections W and S, the structure is a truss-purlin system supporting the glazing. The roof slopes are 2%.

Stairs: All stairs except those in the greenhouse are designed as monolithic reinforced concrete slab stairs. The stairs in the greenhouse have a steel stringer construction.

Sports Hall Building – Brief Description
The Sports Hall is designed with a mixed post-and-wall structure. Columns support trusses on which the densely ribbed flat roof covered with gravel in the sports hall area is placed. The wall structure is masonry in the locker and sanitary area. The building has three floors, including a basement, which is exposed on the western side (the plaza is at the underground level height). The building is rectangular, measuring 26 x 46 meters.