Return to Childhood: A Transition Centre for Social Orphans in Ukraine
Date
2017
Authors
Ivanka, Waplak
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
From the moment of birth, humans begin to perceive and mold an understanding of the world. Sadly, all over the world many children, especially those with mental and physical disabilities, are left alone to navigate and form an understanding of their surroundings. In Ukraine, children born with disabilities are often abandoned and left to the responsibility of the Ukrainian orphanage system, a stigmatized system plagued with abuse and child maltreatment. Through this abuse and severe under stimulation, healthy physical and mental development cannot successfully prosper.
This practicum project is a study of how the built environment of a child transition centre can aid in influencing mental and physical healing of social orphans within Ukraine. The psychological and functional impact of the design of the built environment is explored through key environmental psychology and design theories such as Joachim Wohlwill’s Stimulation Theories, Jay Appleton’s Prospect-Refuge Theory, Ron Smith and Nicholas Watkin’s Therapeutic Environment Theory, as well as Juhani Pallasmaa’s work on the perception of space through the human senses. Through a theoretical and literature analysis of the aforementioned work, a design for Druzi Transition Centre is proposed. The design incorporates built elements intended to support social orphans in healthy physical and mental growth and development. Druzi combines healthcare design, education design, and residence design to create a programme that ensures social orphans gain the tools needed to transition into society and one day become contributing members of the community.
Description
Keywords
Ukraine, Transition, Interior, Design, Centre, Children