X U E E C I E V U A M R S Y T M

The focus of this thesis is to study how a well-design rehabilitation center that prioritizes accessibility to nature and various mediums of art therapy can help spinal cord injury patients heal and prepare them for life after their injury.

The city of New York is an urban jungle filled with glass skyscrapers and concrete sidewalks, however, woven into the city grid are beautiful pockets of nature and parks that were designed to escape the city. A city like New York can often feel similar to a healthcare facility, cold and rigid. The goal of my rehabilitation center is to take inspiration from the parks and nature that surround my site and introduce them to the healthcare environment. Through finishes, lighting, and layout, a healthcare environment can transform into a more hospitality-based environment.

Along with access to nature, which in turn promotes quicker healing, the overall goal of the center is to teach its patients how to live with their injuries and show them that they are still able to experience the beautiful things in life before their injury.