NCJ Number
47838
Date Published
1977
Length
91 pages
Annotation
THE PROCESSES LEADING TO THE SYNTHESIS OF AN INNOVATIVE AND HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN APPROACH FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION, INTERCEPT, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THESE PROCESSES REPRESENTED THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ATTEMPTS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER AND A GROUP OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS TO EXPOSE THE DESIGNER TO A MULTITUDE OF DESIGN EXPRESSIONS AND TECHNIQUES. IT WAS HOPED THAT A DESIGN CAPABLE OF RECHANNELING HUMAN BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS INTO A REWARDING AND VIABLE COMMUNITY LIFE STYLE WOULD EVOLVE FROM THIS PROCESS. THREE SYMPOSIA WERE HELD. THE INITIAL PLAN WAS TO CONSIDER THE FACILITY DESIGN OF A COMMUNITY-BASED ADJUNCT TO CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES, WHICH WOULD FACILITATE REINTEGRATION OF EXFELONS, STATUS OFFENDERS, AND MISDEMEANANTS INTO THE COMMUNITY. BUT THIS DESIGN WAS DISCARDED BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED TOO STIGMATIZING. THEN, A DECISION WAS MADE TO BUILD A FACILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WHICH WOULD TREAT THE CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS RATHER THAN MERELY THE SYMPTOMS. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ANALYSIS FOR SUCH A FACILITY INVOLVED AN ASSESSMENT OF FACILITY/CLIENT-USER RELATIONSHIPS AND ROLES, CLIENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION OF INTEGRATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DEFINITION OF PHYSICAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS IN KEEPING WITH THE PROPOSED NATURE OF THE FACILITY, AND SELECTION/LISTING OF ELEMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE PROPOSED DESIGN. MAJOR DESIGN OBJECTIVES INCLUDED THE ELIMINATION OF STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT, AVOIDANCE OF AN INSTITUTIONAL FACILITY CHARACTER, PROVISION OF LARGE SPACES AND AN EMPHASIS ON CLIENT CHOICE, PROJECTION OF A WARM AND INVITING ATMOSPHERE, AND AN URBAN LOCATION. AESTHEIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, INTUITIVE/SYMBOLIC, PRACTICAL, AND ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS DURING DESIGN PLANNING ARE DISCUSSED. A MODEL OF THE PROPOSED DESIGN WAS CONSTRUCTED, CRITIQUED, AND REVISED. THE REVISED FIRST FLOOR PLAN CALLS FOR READING, COUNSELING, AND DAY CARE AREAS, A BRANCH BANK, A PINBALL ARCADE, AND A CAFETERIA, ALL SURROUNDING AN ATRIUM. SECOND FLOOR PLANS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SMALLER SPACES FOR A VARIETY OF TREATMENT AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES AND AS AREAS FOR CONVERSATION AND INTROSPECTION. SKETCHES FOR THE PROPOSED DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MODEL AND FLOOR PLANS ARE PROVIDED. ALSO INCLUDED IS A SELECTED DESIGN BIBLIOGRAPHY AND A LIST OF RECOMMENDED READINGS. (JAP)