Solid Rock Physical Rehabilitation Center
Abstract
This thesis explores some possible answers to the question, “What is the correlation between physical, social, and emotional attributes?” The typology examined for this thesis is a physical rehabilitation facility. People’s physical, social, and emotional attributes and behaviors affect both them and the environment in which they inhabit on a daily basis. The Theoretical Premise/Unifying Idea which guides the research is, “The physical environment is changed because of the changes in the day to day behavior of people.” The Project Justification is, “People change others and the environment in ways they may not see and by ways they do not understand. Functional, sustainable designs should be developed to ground people in their relationship to the world.”
The environment has its own powers of healing the sick and should be incorporated into the design concept. Those using the facility will be patients, staff, and family members from the Duluth area and those traveling to Duluth for treatment. The facility will be divided into four sections, spaces for staff, doctors, patients, and general usage areas. The Center will be located in the Kenwood district of Duluth, Minnesota. Research will be done through investigating case studies and environmental studies, and be placed in a binder to be reviewed periodically.
The Physical Rehabilitation Center is an out-patient treatment center around 28,000 square feet. The emphasis of this thesis is to incorporate the environment as a form of treatment, into the property of the Center. The environment is another aspect of treatment beyond that found within the built environment. In order for an individual to heal fully, the mind, the soul, and the body need to be healed in unity with one another. Aqua therapy is a new trend in the field of physical therapy and will be incorporated into the design as a treatment.
Key Words: Attributes, physical environment, functional, sustainable designs, facility, environmental studies, out-patient, emphasis, aqua therapy, unity