Designing for Humanity
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Abstract
This thesis aims to explore the idea that a healthy prison design will in turn
create a healthy atmosphere. I will work to design a prison that will aid
in the inmates’ transition back into society. By designing a structure that
provides views to nature, access to natural sunlight, and room to move
semi freely, I believe inmates will be healthier and happier.
Currently the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the
world and over half of the people incarcerated will end up back in prison
within 5 years of their release. The oppressive nature of prisons create an
unhealthy, aggressive attitude, which is reflected in riots, outbursts, and
threats. The main goal of all prisons should be to help inmates re-enter
society successfully. However, most prisons in the United States run on
the idea of retributive justice instead of reformative justice. Retributive
justice is defined by Wikipedia as “a theory of justice which holds that
the best response to a crime is a suitable punishment, inflicted for its
own sake. The only goal in retributive justice is punishment.” This idea is
extremely damaging, not only to the inmates themselves but to society
as a whole. I cannot change the way inmates are being treated but I can
change the way the architecture treats them.