THE LABYRINTH OF EXPERIENCE LIMINALITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARCHITECTURE AND MIND
Chandler Philpott, M.Arch
ABSOLUTE MIND
PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE
LIMINAL
ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE
ABSOLUTE ARCHITECTURE
REAL
Consider the abstraction of the idea of the ‘liminal’ or transitional space in rites of passage to an idea of a relative disciplinary space between any two concepts. This abstraction draws a parallel between the idea of subjective experience in general and the specific idea of designing to accommodate this at the intersection between architecture and clinical psychiatric practice. The archetype of the labyrinth is demonstrated (in western culture) to be a robust symbol of subjective experience for both architecture and psychiatry, and is selected as the top-down, narrative-driven model for spatialization of the practical interface between the two. For the bottom-up, objective-driven model, a five-aspect description of salutogenic design [mazzi 2020] is taken to support the differentiation of physical space. These five aspects are: self efficacy; relaxation response; sense of coherence; biophilia; prospect and refuge. The investigation of the central issue from complementary perspectives leads to the development of a theoretical architectural ‘machine,’ which should support effective treatment of psychological distress: the labyrinth.
LIMINALITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARCHITECTURE AND MIND
DETERMINATE
DETERMINATE + COMPREHENSIVE
COMPREHENSIVE
THE LABYRINTH NAVIGATES INDETERMINACY
[REAL, THOUGHT TO BE DAEDALUS’ LABYRINTH]
ARCHITECTURE: THE PALACE AT KNOSSOS
A PLAN OF THE PALACE AT KNOSSOS [ATTRIBUTION NEEDED]
A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PALACE AT KNOSSOS [AUTHOR UNKNOWN]
THE LABYRINTH SYMBOL ON A COIN KNOSSOS, GREECE | 200 - 67 BCE
THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR MAÎTRE DES CASSONI CAMPANA | CA. 1500 CE
THE LABYRINTH: THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE?
DAEDALUS CHARLES GRAFLY | 1889
MIND: THE MINOAN LABYRINTH [DESIGNED BY DAEDALUS, MYTHICAL?]
MINOTAUR CAGE ?
OR
LIMINAL STAGE?
ONE MYTH, TWO LABYRINTHS
SETTING
LABYRINTH
PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY
MONASTERY
RETREAT CENTER
SPA RESORT
YOUR M HOU
FORM
FOLDED PATH
UNIT, HOSPITAL
COMPOUND
VARIED
VARIED
HOM
SUBJECT
THESEUS
PATIENT
NOVICE, GUEST
WEARY PERSON
PERSON OF MEANS
YO
OBSTACLE
MINOTAUR
DISTRESS, DISORDER
LOW SPIRIT
DISENCHANTMENT
EXHAUSTION, TOO MUCH MONEY
UNSPE
GUIDE
ARIADNE
COUNSELOR, DOCTOR
MONK
HOLISTIC PRACTITIONER
STAFF
YOUR
ORIENTING FRAMEWORK
ARIADNE’S THREAD
PSCYCHIATRIC PRACTICE
MONASTIC LIFE, RELIGION
HOLISTIC PRACTICE
RELAXATION
IT’S YOUR HOU
THE PROGRAM OF THE MYTH
[UNUSUAL]
ARRRIVES IN A RESTRAINT IMMINENT RISK OF HARM
RESTRAINT CONTINUES 24HR 1:1 STAFF SUPERVISION
IMMINENT RISK OF HARM [NO RESTRAINT]
CONFINED TO ISOLATION ROOM 24HR 1:1 STAFF SUPERVISION
HIGH RISK OF HARM IMMEDIATE
CONFINED TO THE UNIT 5-MIN SAFETY CHECKS
MEDIUM RISK OF HARM NOT IMMEDIATE
CONFINED TO THE UNIT 15-MIN SAFETY CHECKS
LOW RISK OF HARM
OFF-UNIT TRAVEL WITH STAFF 15-MIN SAFETY CHECKS
LOW RISK OF HARM PERSISTENT
OFF UNIT TRAVEL WITH FAMILY 15-MIN SAFETY CHECKS
DISCHARGE
DISCHARGE WITH AFTERCARE PLAN PARTIAL [WEEKDAY] PROGRAM POSSIBLE
READMISSION
NOTE: THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS BASED ON MY RECOLLECTION. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE PERFECTLY ACCURATE, IT DOES REFLECT THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF UNIT OPERATIONS.
ON UNIT GROUPS: EXPRESSIVE THERAPY QI GONG MEDICATION MANAGEMENT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS STRESS MANAGEMENT
OFF UNIT GROUPS: NATURE WALK HORTICULTURAL THERAPY RECREATION CENTER FITNESS CENTER PORCH TIME [INFORMAL]
START AT “HIGH RISK” STANDARDS BUT EASILY ADJUSTED BY TREATMENT TEAM
INCREMENTAL RELAXATION OF APPLIED DETERMINACY AS MODE OF EFFECT IN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE
BASE UNIT
PATH IS LOCALLY 1-D
CLASSICAL TOPOLOGY
TOPOLOGY DRIVES EXPERIENCE EXTERNAL | LIMINAL | INTERNAL
DETERMINATE TOPOLOGY = DETERMINATE RHTYHM
WHAT IS THE LABYRINTH?
SIMPLE TOPOLOGY DETERMINATE
ADD PROXIMITIES SUBVERTED
DISTORT / REPEAT GENERATE FORM SUBVERSIONS IN A DETERMINATE FORM
PRIORITIES OF SALUTOGENIC DESIGN: RELAXATION RESPONSE SELF EFFICACY
LABYRINTH WALKING IS MEDIATIVE INCREMENTAL RETRACTION OF DETERMINACY ACCOUNTED FOR BY PROGRAM
PROSPECT & REFUGE SENSE OF COHERENCE BIOPHILIA
ENCLOSURE / EXPOSURE SIMPLICITY / COMPLEXITY SYNTHETIC / NATURAL SIGNALING IN 3-D SPACE
HIGH / NEUTRAL / LOW EXPRESSION OF SIGNALS
SALUTOGENESIS USED TO SIGNAL POSITION IN 3D SPACE
COMPLEXITY
HIGH
PLAIN SPACE EXHIBITION | JOHN PAWSON | 2010
PARISH HOUSE ST. JOSEF | MARTIN SAARINEN | 2010
IL TEATRINO | TADAO ANDO | 2013
GATEHOUSE FOR NOTRE DAME DU HAUT | RENZO PIANO | 2011
EARTH HOUSE | BCHO ARCHITECTS | 2009
THERMES VALS | PETER ZUMTHOR | 1996
MUSÉE DU VIN | GILLES PERRAUDIN |2011
WELLNESSPARK ELSE-CLUB SAUNA | 4A ARCHITEKTEN | 2007
WINDOWS OF THE EARTH | RA PAULETTE | 1996
HIGH
BIOPHILIA
LOW
LOW
LOW EXPOSURE
PRECEDENTS FOR SALUTOGENIC SIGNALS
COMPLEXITY
HIGH
GALLERY AT UK ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS | DAVID CHIPPERFIELD | 2018
CAMPUS JOACHIMSTRASSE | DAVID CHIPPERFIELD | 2007
SCHRÖDER HOUSE | GERRIT RIETVELD | 1924
NUOVA SEDE DELLA SCUOLA PER L’EUROPA | ZERMANI E ASSOCIATI | 2019
SAINT BENEDICT CHAPEL | PETER ZUMTHOR | 1988
BIOSCLEAVE HOUSE | ARAKAWA + GINS | 2008
CLOISTER HOUSE | MORQ | 2018
HOTEL CLICK CLACK | PLAN B ARQUITECTOS | 2012
WINTER GARDEN AT HÔTEL VAN EETVELDE| VICTOR HORTA | 1900
HIGH
BIOPHILIA
LOW
LOW
MODERATE EXPOSURE
PRECEDENTS FOR SALUTOGENIC SIGNALS
COMPLEXITY
HIGH
GLASS PAVILION AT TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART | SANAA | 2006
FABRIKSTRASSE 28 | TADAO ANDO | 2010
SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY | OMA | 2004
VILLA TUGENDHAT | LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE | 1930
SOUTH LAKE UNION HEADQUARTERS | OLSON KUNDIG | [DATE NEEDED]
FONDATION LOUIS VUITTTON | GEHRY PARTNERS | 2014
GARDEN ROOM | ATELIER JANDA VANDERGHOTE | 2012
JOHN DEERE HEADQUARTERS | EERO SAARINEN | 1964
JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT | SAFDIE | 2018
HIGH
BIOPHILIA
LOW
LOW
HIGH EXPOSURE
PRECEDENTS FOR SALUTOGENIC SIGNALS
PROSPECT & REFUGE [AS EXPOSURE]
BIOPHILIA
SITE & STRATEGY
SENSE OF COHERENCE [AS URBAN COMPLEXITY]
CITY CENTER BY AREA
86% CITY AREA WITHIN 5 MILES
PROJECT SITE in MOUNT AUBURN
+ NORWOOD, ST. BERNARD
DOWNTOWN BASIN
2.5 mi
5 mi
CINCINNATI, OHIO
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
INWOOD PARK
I H O
O
RI
I V R VE
EW
S
D E H
THE CHRIST HOSPITAL
DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS
N
0’
50’
100’
200’
500’
SITE TOTAL 105,775 SF [2.42 ACRE]
SITE AS UNDIFFERENTIATED 2D SPACE
COMPLEMENTARY DETERMINATE PATHS WITH EXTENDED TOPOLOGY
180˚
90˚
270˚
0˚
360˚
270˚
180˚
90˚
RECTANGULAR TOPOLOGY OF CHARTRES LABYRINTH RADIAL PROJECTIONS
0˚ BASE TOPOLOGY UNIT TOPOLOGY EXTENSIONS
BASE TOPOLOGY FROM CHARTRES CATHEDRAL
CHARTRES TOPOLOGY , WITH TOPOLOGICAL SUBVERSION
BASIC FORM FROM CHARTRES TOPOLOGY
SITE + MASS
BASIC DIAGRAM
OFFSET + TORQUE
MODIFIED MASSING
RE-INTRODUCE PATH
TOPOLOGICAL SUBVERSIONS
FLOOR PLATES CONNECT TO PATH
FORM FROM DIAGRAM
THE FACILITY
N
0’
25’
50’
100’
250’
SITE SECTION
N
0’
25’
50’
100’
250’
SITE PLAN
N
0’
10’
25’
50’
100’
FACILITY SECTION
VIEW FROM LOWER SITE
CHAPEL INTERIOR
EXIT FROM TUNNEL UNDER MAIN FACILITY
CONSTRUCTED LANDSCAPE IN CLOISTER
The serious problems in life ... are never fully solved. If ever they should appear to be so it is a sure sign that something has been lost. The meaning and purpose of a problem seem to lie not in its solution but in our working at it incessantly.
- Carl Jung
THANK YOU