PHANTASMAGORICAL SPACES : RE-VISITING THE HEALING ENVIRONMENT IN SINGAPORE MENTAL HOSPITALS

Abstract

Singapore’s population is aging rapidly. The onset of aging population in the next 5 years spell many challenges and the prevalence of dementia and depression are likely to increase. The number of mental patients is also increasing each year. According to Institute of Mental Health figures, there were about 33,000 outpatients in 2008 and 32,000 outpatients in 2007. As we prepare ourselves for the increase of mental patients in Singapore, what is the most ideal environment for the healing of a mental patient?

Current theories prescribe the physical environment (the built environment and the natural environment) and intangible environment (the social environment) as important parameters to be considered in the construction of the healing environment for mental patients. These theories dictate that the existence of the physical environment will allow social activities to happen. However, the physical environment is not merely a generative space for the social environment to occur.A mental patient’s handicap is mainly psychological. Therefore there should be a more specific approach of constructing a healing environment for mental patients instead of following universal strategies.

This dissertation hopes to propose a new perspective in constructing healing spaces for mental rehabilitation. The study aims to give insight into the construction of a physical space that can lead to evocative images or experience which is a phantasmagorical space. Phantasmagoria is envisioned as an alternative design driver to create an evocative physical environment which will be more effective in the rehabilitation of mental patients.