A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Affect and materiality in therapeutic spaces. A contemporary archaeology of hospices.
Through a series of case studies I explore the affective impact of the therapeutic spaces of hospices on the communities they serve, their staff, volunteers and users. Hospices provide services for those with life-limiting conditions. Cure is not possible, the subjective wellbeing of patients and their loved ones is thus paramount. Hospices deliver a range of palliative care interventions but what distinguishes hospices is their buildings which have the potential to contribute to the enhancement of wellbeing. Drawing on Material Engagement Theory (MET), enactivist perspectives on affect, Heideggerian conceptions of dwelling, the philosophy of atmosphere, the theory of wellbeing and other resources I explore the therapeutic mechanism of hospice spaces. I argue that atmospheres are the affordances of Ingold’s “weather world” and are at least as important as the affordances of the object world. Therapeutic spaces exercise their agency through permutations of affordance and atmosphere which facilitate or constrain forms of affect/movement of the material and felt bodies of those who use the buildings. I argue that through mechanisms of “enactive signification” hospice buildings mobilise the support of the communities they serve and concretise their identity. I suggest that changing regimes of clinical care are in unrecognised conflict with some aspects of the original philosophy of hospice care, which was closely aligned with Heidegger’s concept of “dwelling”, and that this conflict threatens the identity and sustainability of the hospice movement. I provide a number of illustrations of the ways in which aspects of design contribute to the experience of both hospice users and community and I make a number of suggestions as to how hospices could navigate the implications of changing regimes of care and how the differing functions of the hospice may be combined and facilitated by their design. This analysis of the relationship between mind and architecture opens an underexplored domain of research into MET, ...
Affect and materiality in therapeutic spaces. A contemporary archaeology of hospices.
Through a series of case studies I explore the affective impact of the therapeutic spaces of hospices on the communities they serve, their staff, volunteers and users. Hospices provide services for those with life-limiting conditions. Cure is not possible, the subjective wellbeing of patients and their loved ones is thus paramount. Hospices deliver a range of palliative care interventions but what distinguishes hospices is their buildings which have the potential to contribute to the enhancement of wellbeing. Drawing on Material Engagement Theory (MET), enactivist perspectives on affect, Heideggerian conceptions of dwelling, the philosophy of atmosphere, the theory of wellbeing and other resources I explore the therapeutic mechanism of hospice spaces. I argue that atmospheres are the affordances of Ingold’s “weather world” and are at least as important as the affordances of the object world. Therapeutic spaces exercise their agency through permutations of affordance and atmosphere which facilitate or constrain forms of affect/movement of the material and felt bodies of those who use the buildings. I argue that through mechanisms of “enactive signification” hospice buildings mobilise the support of the communities they serve and concretise their identity. I suggest that changing regimes of clinical care are in unrecognised conflict with some aspects of the original philosophy of hospice care, which was closely aligned with Heidegger’s concept of “dwelling”, and that this conflict threatens the identity and sustainability of the hospice movement. I provide a number of illustrations of the ways in which aspects of design contribute to the experience of both hospice users and community and I make a number of suggestions as to how hospices could navigate the implications of changing regimes of care and how the differing functions of the hospice may be combined and facilitated by their design. This analysis of the relationship between mind and architecture opens an underexplored domain of research into MET, ...
Affect and materiality in therapeutic spaces. A contemporary archaeology of hospices.
Harries, J (author) / Malafouris, L
2021-04-06
Theses
Electronic Resource
English
DDC:
720
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