Class
Article
College
Caine College of the Arts
Department
English Department
Faculty Mentor
Susie Tibbits
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
2.2 million people are estimated to be incarcerated in the United State today. Of those incarcerated, 85% have substance abuse issues or have been charged for crimes involving drugs most of which have been put behind bars for non-violent drug Convictions. Another Statistic shows that 64% of inmates have reported issues of Mental health. As a student in the Interior Architecture and Design Program, our number one goal is to create environments that promote health and wellbeing. The design of a space has the power to affect a person’s emotions, behavior, and the way a space is used. Prisons are strategically designed to make the inmates feel intimidated and trapped by the structure. Prisons don’t want them to feel comfortable and they want to eliminate the idea of being able to escape. A flawed element in this design is theemotional and mental effect living in an undignified space has on one’s mental health. If a prison had an intentional design focused on mental health and rehabilitation it would help to lower mental health damage from being in prison with the goal to prevent further incarceration.Ways to design for better mental health are, color psychology, like painting walls blue which lowers blood pressure, making people calmer. Avoiding cornered walls which have been proved to activate the amygdala (where fear is stimulated) when compared to curved walls. The use of biophilia (which is the presence of nature in interiors) is heavily studied and applied to hospitals because it improves healing. Simulating the outside world as much as possible encourages a smooth transition to post-prison life. Including classrooms and workshops to gain knowledge and skill that can lead to jobs. There are many ways design can improve the health and wellness of a person. I have gathering research to support a new type of prison that focuses onrehabilitation and mental health to reduce re-incarceration rates using interiorarchitecture and design as a means to execute it.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-8-2022 12:00 AM
Included in
Rehabilitation Center
Logan, UT
2.2 million people are estimated to be incarcerated in the United State today. Of those incarcerated, 85% have substance abuse issues or have been charged for crimes involving drugs most of which have been put behind bars for non-violent drug Convictions. Another Statistic shows that 64% of inmates have reported issues of Mental health. As a student in the Interior Architecture and Design Program, our number one goal is to create environments that promote health and wellbeing. The design of a space has the power to affect a person’s emotions, behavior, and the way a space is used. Prisons are strategically designed to make the inmates feel intimidated and trapped by the structure. Prisons don’t want them to feel comfortable and they want to eliminate the idea of being able to escape. A flawed element in this design is theemotional and mental effect living in an undignified space has on one’s mental health. If a prison had an intentional design focused on mental health and rehabilitation it would help to lower mental health damage from being in prison with the goal to prevent further incarceration.Ways to design for better mental health are, color psychology, like painting walls blue which lowers blood pressure, making people calmer. Avoiding cornered walls which have been proved to activate the amygdala (where fear is stimulated) when compared to curved walls. The use of biophilia (which is the presence of nature in interiors) is heavily studied and applied to hospitals because it improves healing. Simulating the outside world as much as possible encourages a smooth transition to post-prison life. Including classrooms and workshops to gain knowledge and skill that can lead to jobs. There are many ways design can improve the health and wellness of a person. I have gathering research to support a new type of prison that focuses onrehabilitation and mental health to reduce re-incarceration rates using interiorarchitecture and design as a means to execute it.