Date of Award

8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Interior Architecture, MAIA

School

CAS

Department

Art & Design Department

Faculty Advisor

Sean Solley

Second Advisor

Nicole Ward

Abstract

Mental health and social interaction have been linked since the beginning of early society, though mental health began to gain recognition in much more recent years. Without delving into the history of mental health or the stigmas associated, it is important to understand that what was once seen as a “disability” of sorts, now plagues over 970 million people in the world – and those are just the ones who have spoken out (Source 7). Wellness architecture is a way of consciously designing to not only aesthetically benefit users, but to enrich lives mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through health codes, safety regulations, and exceptional design principles, wellness architecture has a much greater impact than surface-level aesthetics. This project will delve into the ways in which wellness architecture could help combat the mental health crisis, particularly loneliness, which impacts over 970 million people. Through a multitude of case studies and a full architectural design proposal, this investigation illustrates how thoughtful design can foster social connections and well-being, emphasizing the need for adaptable spaces that support both individual health and community interaction.

Comments

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Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

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