A JOURNEY THROUGH DARKNESS: sensory design in depression rehabilitation centre

Abstract

Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression (Who.int 2019). Depression may bring persistent low moods, loss of interest, impaired ability to think, concentrate and remember, body pain and other invisible symptoms. With a lack of knowledge about depression, the symptoms are usually interpreted as indolence, frangibility, sentimentality or other negative judgments of depressed individuals. In the worse cases, mental disorders may represent abnormal personality and shame. If depressed individuals receive no access to treatment, depression may become chronic and recurrent with a tendency of increasing disability. Depression is treatable, and we already have various effective therapies. However, the symptoms and the myths of depression always impede and undermine the recovery process. In this architectural thesis, although depression has different causes and categories, it is regarded as an entirety through which to investigate a specific solution. This project is a depression recovery centre, based on research of depression and personal experience. The architecture functions as a therapist, empathizing with the depressive experience, accepting and supporting the self-leading exploration of depressed individuals in the recovery process, and assisting in the stabilization and advancement of positive emotional and mental states, which are realized in sensory design. This project is highly subjective in terms of architectural function choices. The three main functions are translated from the personal experience of recovery, learning, origami making, and counselling. The design consists of three parts: the exhibition space brings a general understanding of depression, the origami-making area creates chances to take a breath from compulsive negative thoughts and offers a platform of communication, and the counselling part provides private space for targeted professional help. In terms of the universal design concept, the thesis is objective. The depression recovery centre design is siteless and able to be adapted in more potential contexts. Therefore, the project is a fundamental experiment of the concept.