In Search of a Place for Emotion and Healing: Designing Empathetic Architecture for the Third Age

In medicalized environments, the link between emotion and architecture is often overlooked due to prioritization of efficiency and treatment. In such settings, the architecture no longer actively participates. The thesis investigates a typology of therapeutic architecture for the aging demographics in 21st century. Despite the rising number of population entering this generation, they have been neglected in terms of policy, investment, and accommodation. As such, the physical and emotional environment for this group has not been sufficiently addressed. The thesis departs by asking the question of how to create a healing space for the marginalized senior cohorts. Situated near Hospital Montfort, the created space will incorporate communal and sensory elements to generate a hospitable environment. At a broader level, the project will attempt to establish a symbiotic relationship with nature and surrounding long-term care housing to develop a holistic network for the aging population.