The Halfway

Progressive Patterns // Extending Territories

The Halfway

Various locations were considered for The Halfway, including fields adjacent to the Murray Royal estate, as well as sites within Bridgend, however, the most suitable site for The Halfway proved to be within the hospital grounds.

The Halfway is located on the south edge of the Murray Royal estate towards the eastern corner of the site. Due to the new master plan recently completed on site, this portion of the site is no longer occupied by patients within the hospital, and as a result, is vacant, apart from a few redundant buildings. This area of the site therefore provides an opportunity for regeneration.

This location also provides an ideal symbolic location for exiting the institution and re-entering the world outside its walls. Located close enough to the hospital to provide support and protection, yet secluded enough within a vacant part of the site, disguised by trees, that it is far enough removed from institutional life.

The wall that once surrounded the whole Murray Royal estate will be reinstated to provide protection for the Halfway whilst also providing a symbollic passing from the institution to the outside.

The building has been constructed around a central courtyard to provide protection for the inhabitants whilst offering connection to the wider, open landscape. This courtyard has then been manipulated to include two separate buildings, as well as a heart to The Halfway, and definition between the residential and social elements.

The larger building with The Halfway acts as the resdential area, with five individual bedrooms for the inhabitants, as well as the Sanctuary Space. The residential building provides views to the open landscape as well as the more protected courtyard contained within The Halfway.

The smaller building within The Halfway acts as an interactive catalyst. The living, dining and kitchen areas are united within this building, and provide a neutral setting for all inhabitants, as well as visitors, within The Halfway. This social area is designed to encourage interaction between all who enter it within a familiar domestic setting.

The Expanded provides a space for an inhabitant to be self sufficient within the security of the Halfway. A self-contained unit, the space allows for an occupant, along with their partner, to reside within the halfway, whilst being provided some privacy away from the remainder of the inhabitants.

This provides further opportunity to establish a self-sufficient routine after the rigid structure of the institution.

The visitors residence within The Halfway provides a self contained unit for family and guests to visit inhabitants within The Halfway. The residence is located on the outside of the wall, providing a separation between the two, whilst remaining close enough to encourage interaction between the inhabitants and their visitors. To access the main buildings within The Halfway, the visitors use the same entrance as the Halfway inhabitants themselves; a united entrance for all.

Although the thesis focuses on the schizophrenia, this merely provided a basis on which to focus the design. The Halfway is designed not only for those individuals with schizophrenia, but rather as a retreat for those with any form of illness, either mental or physical. Within this specific location in the Murray Royal grounds however, it’s main inhabitants would be the hospital’s previous patients.

The spaces that follow are based on the research undertaken within the thesis, and provide areas for the occupants of The Halfway to inhabit when they are occupying a certain state of mind. These spaces are not designed to be prescriptive, but rather to be sympathetic enough to be interpreted by each individual in a unique manner suited to their temporary state of mind.

Each space designed varies from the others through its scale, materiality, natural light and exposure to landscape, providing an array of spatial conditions for the inhabitants.

While these spaces allow interaction when in a collective, these four spaces were designed because they centre around the individual.

Single Space compressed, dark enclosure soft light emits from above scent of douglas fir muted external sounds permeate based on basic human dimensions to provide sufficient room to sit down, stand up and lie down in the space.

The single space is located above the social building, accessed by a stair.

By situating the single space above the social area, individuals can remove themselves from the interaction below, whilst not becoming reclusive.

Sleep Space radiant morning light secure and comforting room for a double bed, wardrobe and armchair large window to view landscape soft, white painted brick walls A room to sleep in, with space to contemplate; a window box and a full height window provide views out to the surrounding landscape, as well as places to sit.

Located away from the social space, the Sleep Spaces provide solitude for the individual, whilst providing access to the External and Sanctuary Spaces for interaction with others.

External Space protected by a suggested structure central within the halfway space for variations of occupation embedded in landscape space for the individual and the collective to immerse themselves within the landscape whilst being protected.

The External Space is located within the central courtyard of The Halfway. Protect on all sides by planting and the surrounding buildings, the simple structure suggests enclosure whilst still exposing the occupant to the surrounding landscape. The seating platform allows enough space for a number of individuals to sit and lie down in the space.

Sanctuary Space simultaneously enclosed and exposed immersed in landscape large enough for the collective small enough for the individual an internal space that allows interaction, both with other individuals, and the surrounding landscape.

The Sanctuary Space provides varying conditions within the one space. Moving from darkness to light, enclosed to exposed, the space provides opportunities for the individual and the collective to position themselves in different positions within the space which allows the room to be used in different ways, dependent on the current need.

Progressive Patterns // Extending Territories