Own your treatment space

Abstract

Psychiatric clinics where patients live are only used when the patient cannot
live on their own anymore. Stays are kept as short as possible and patients are
stimulated to reintegrate and live on their own again (GGZ Noord-Holland-
Noord, n.d.). For patients with the prospect of moving out again, this now often
fails, because the difference between living in a clinic and living in your own
home is too big. The architecture does not fully support aspects of giving and
taking autonomy, which can result in patients feeling helpless (Evans, 2003).
This research aims to make it easier for patients admitted to psychiatric clinics
to reintegrate into out-patient care and their own home, by finding ways in
which architecture can increase the autonomy that patients in clinics have.
For this research, the subject of feeling at home is taken from J. Habraken
(1961), who says that a place can only feel like a home when you are able to
build, to change it to your preferences. The paper by Golembiewski (2010) is
used as it directly posed architectural guidelines. There is no research yet that
combines elements of architecture and the built environment into guidelines
to increase the feeling of autonomy for patients admitted to psychiatric clinics.
Part of the research is done by a case study analysis, in which 5 psychiatric
clinics in The Netherlands will be ranked points in five different categories,
with a maximum of five points. The categories are: Room for activity within,
Activities in surroundings, Possibility to choose your whereabouts, Possibility
to personalize and Stigmatization. Another part of the research is done by by
interviews and observations in a Field Work. Three interviews were done with
members of staff and there have also been observations directed to finding
out people’s needs, wishes and relationship with the building.
The research resulted in 17 architectural guidelines that architects can use
in order to design psychiatric clinics and increase the amount of autonomy
patients have. Within the guidelines, there is a clash between those that make
sure safety and privacy is provided within the building and thosethat stimulate
social contact and activities. It is both important to comfort patients as well
as prepare them to live on their own.

Key words: Autonomy, personalization, temporary co-living, psychiatric clinics,
inpatient healthcare facilities, patient-centred healthcare.