Work submitted for the competition
"Best Interior Diploma 2021/2023"
The motivation for the concept of a therapeutic space was the desire to raise public awareness of how people with autism function. The theme stems from the need to break down formal and mental barriers in architecture in favor of finding solutions that foster a sense of community. My goal was to design a place that will influence the development of the individual through diverse manual therapy workshops. It will help with tranquility and foster integration with the other viewers of the space.
View of the space from the locker room
© Alicja Nalikowska
The world of autistic people is perceived as closed and inaccessible, so I transferred the idea of the therapeutic space to a transparent building, such as a greenhouse. This symbolic gesture allows their reality to be exposed; the greenhouse invites them into a world that is slightly different, beautiful and interesting.
location map
© Alicja Nalikowska
For my diploma project I chose an abandoned building on the grounds of the former Manor and Landscape Complex in Kolibki, Gdynia. The seaside location is a potential advantage of the building — it promotes accessibility and fits in with the idea of open architecture. The original layout divided the greenhouse into a glazed cultivation area and a brick backroom with a boiler room. The adaptation naturally made it possible to use the first part for therapeutic space, locating organizational and social facilities in the second.
Interior of the designed facility, use of electrochromic glass
© Alicja Nalikowska
The project involves replacing the deteriorated steel structure and introducing new windows. The glazing allows perfect illumination of the space, which translates into mental hygiene. The use of electrochromic glass is envisaged here, allowing smooth regulation of sunlight access to the building's interior.
projection of the designed building
© Alicja Nalikowska
I have designed five workshop zones designed to support the individual in learning a sense of agency, patience, acquiring or enhancing cognitive impressions, improving the ability to concentrate and familiarizing with new experiences. The zones have been shaped with free-standing openwork forms whose most important function is sensory stimulation. They can be touched, drowning the senses in a variety of textures and colors. Thanks to sunlight, they become three-dimensional, drawing non-obvious shadows on the homogeneous floor to stimulate the imagination.
view of the ceramics workshop
© Alicja Nalikowska
With a view to stimulating the senses, materials selected for their physical properties and their associated associations were introduced, with an emphasis on diversifying forms, textures and colors. The inspiration for the use of a particular range of colors came from the location of the greenhouse — the design is based on shades of gray, blue and turquoise. Accents of color break the calm tones and add energy to the whole.
the interior of the workshop for working with precious stones
© Alicja Nalikowska
Manual therapy is divided into gemstone work, ceramics workshop, glass painting workshop, floristry zone I and zone II. I wanted the different zones to be independent, open and have a simple, harmonious layout. Each of them has at least two entrances. Openwork, sensory forms give them lightness, while providing comfort to the user.
therapeutic office
© Alicja Nalikowska
The layout of the furniture gives freedom of movement. To increase privacy, I divided the therapy cabinet area into two parts. The proximity to nature and the reversal of the seats towards the glazing, as in the case of other zones, regenerates and relaxes.
florist zone
© Alicja Nalikowska
The relaxation zone is a design of a form planted inside with grass and trees — moving the greenery inside the building refers to the climate of the greenhouse and the surroundings and has a positive effect on the mood of the audience. Panels of flowing water in the cafe zone harmonize the division of space, and spreading them apart allows for a discreet relationship with the flora zones.
relaxation zone
© Alicja Nalikowska
Alicja Nalikowska
Illustrations: © Author
