Breaking barriers: An architectural solution to improve young people’s mental and physical well-being
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Other Title
Authors
Selman, Sarah
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Master of Architecture (Professional)
Grantor
Unitec, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Date
2024
Supervisors
Foote, Hamish
McConchie, Graeme
Newman, Philippa
McConchie, Graeme
Newman, Philippa
Type
Masters Thesis
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Takapuna (Auckland, N.Z.)
Auckland (N.Z.)
New Zealand
youth
well being
physical activity
mental health facilities
architecture for mental health
salutogenic design
biophilic design
Auckland (N.Z.)
New Zealand
youth
well being
physical activity
mental health facilities
architecture for mental health
salutogenic design
biophilic design
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Selman, S. (2024) Breaking barriers: An architectural solution to improve young people’s mental and physical well-being (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional)). Unitec, Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6652
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION
How can architecture enable access to acitivities that improve young people’s mental and physical well-being?
ABSTRACT
The journey of development children experience from childhood to adolescence is a pivotal period in their lives that ultimately shapes their identities. However, it is during this period that challenges often arise. They experience physical, social and psychological challenges that alter their thoughts, emotions and behaviour, and these alterations can lead to the development of a mental illness.
In New Zealand, young people are encountering a deficiency in support within the current mental health services. These services predominately adopt a medical approach aimed solely at treating illnesses. Their environments are clinical and sterile, lacking the nurturing and comfortable environment that patients seek when ill. This environment often fosters feelings of isolation and confusion among individuals seeking help, reducing them to just names on a prescription. With this also comes stigma generated from outsiders whose views are clouded and influenced by their lack of understanding and knowledge about the issue.
The negative emotions and qualities attached to the current healthcare infrastructure need to be reconsidered. A shift towards prevention and early intervention strategies should be implemented. With this, a pursuit of optimal well-being becomes desired within individuals. Thus, the project follows a different approach through a social lens that emphasises participation in activities to effortlessly allow young people to create meaningful connections and gain individual growth that contributes to positive mental and physical well-being.
To successfully achieve this, the project employs Biophilic and Salutogenic Design Principles to foster humans’ desired connection with the natural evironment. It will utilise the analysis of precedents and literature strategies that aid human relationships and inclusive movement networks.
The process creates the essence of the North Shore Youth Station, marking the beginning of a solution towards a far larger mental health system. A system required to be redeveloped to address the problem of mental health faced by New Zealand’s young people.
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