CAMPUS (Live + Work) - Testing the characteristics of ' The Prospect and Refuge Theory' in Architecture
About the Project
What is it about our architecture we like and why do we like it? Why does a human mind experience ‘negativity’, ‘sadness’ or ‘happiness’, ‘cheerfulness’ in a certain environment irrespective of their ‘moods’? The answer to this question, as subjective as it can get, is something if architects understand and execute well as per the users’ requirements, could change the perception of people when they see and experience any built environment.
This project aims to shed some light on the spatial experience and the impacts of architectural and landscape spaces psychologically on a human mind. How and where does the architecture of pleasure begin? And how to recognize and manipulate it architecturally? To get closer to the answer, this design shall discuss some theories that begin from the instincts of survival, which involve complexity, disorder, proportions, prospect, refuge etc. that go as old as human experience but have received very little attention in the context of architecture and psychology combined. After critically analyzing different set of literature on these theories, linking them with the components of architecture in order to understand the instinct connection of ‘form’ with ‘feeling’. After identifying the certain components of architecture and their psychological impacts on human mind, this project shall test the theory of prospect and refuge in order to design an idea of a campus where people can live and work in order to extend the idea of campus living beyond universities and apply them in our professional lives as well
This project aims to shed some light on the spatial experience and the impacts of architectural and landscape spaces psychologically on a human mind. How and where does the architecture of pleasure begin? And how to recognize and manipulate it architecturally? To get closer to the answer, this design shall discuss some theories that begin from the instincts of survival, which involve complexity, disorder, proportions, prospect, refuge etc. that go as old as human experience but have received very little attention in the context of architecture and psychology combined. After critically analyzing different set of literature on these theories, linking them with the components of architecture in order to understand the instinct connection of ‘form’ with ‘feeling’. After identifying the certain components of architecture and their psychological impacts on human mind, this project shall test the theory of prospect and refuge in order to design an idea of a campus where people can live and work in order to extend the idea of campus living beyond universities and apply them in our professional lives as well
Location and Site
The site of the project is located in the city of Ahmedabad, which is in the west most part of India. The site is located in an extremely busy precinct of the city near SG Highway. The area is filled with commercial offices and residential complexes. And thus, it was the perfect place where a campus where people could live and work could be proposed. In the times that we live, work from home has become an essential part of our work culture. And this campus, the design of which is based on the characteristics of Prospect and Refuge in Architecture, ensures the mental well-being of being within a space.
Prospect and Refuge Theory - Concept and idea
Jay Appleton, in his book 'Experience of Landscape' very intimately points out by giving an example of a hunter, that if a hunter wants to carry on, he must reach an appropriate place from where he can see his surroundings before it becomes inaccessible to him. And if he wishes to escape successfully, he must ensure that he must reach a place inaccessible to its pursuer (Appleton, 1975). But in our case, in order to study the spontaneous reactions and emotions in a built environment, which might mean danger; aspects like anxiety or restlessness, which prevent us from feeling pleasant or relaxed should be included as they all apprehend in terms of the ability to see without being seen. When we are in such a condition, anxiety is set aside, and relaxation is possible. It has thus been established, that at a human level, the ability to see and hide are both important in humans’ survival prospects. Where there is an unimpeded opportunity to see, we can call it prospect and where there is an opportunity to hide, we can call it refuge. To this theory, Appleton applies the name Prospect and refuge theory (Appleton,1975). Prospect and refuge theory takes one step further in the meaning of habitat theory. Habitat theory suggests that the aesthetic pleasure derived from the environment we are in to satisfy all biological needs. Prospect and refuge theory states that, the ability to see without being seen is an intermediate step to gain satisfaction for many of those needs.
What is the Campus?
The idea of a campus is a group of people working together in one environment, which can be enclosed or open; but is confined within one specific area. Usually seen in universities, hospitals, or corporate campuses. This project explores this further, and the idea of this campus is to take care of the two main environments, in which we as adults spend most of our time.
- An environment in which we live.
- An environment in which we work.
Regardless of people going to universities or not, they pass out from the academic campuses and enter Life, where they spend most of their days and most of their time, in their offices or any place of work (7-10 hours in a day). From the remaining hours of the day, usually people spend most of that time at home. To get prepared for the next day again.
This project, aims to develop a campus, which satisfies the requirements of these two major environments in one. And the position of architecture in this project specifically becomes responsible to generate a psychologically healthy environment, where people would spend most of their times in.
The study of the Theory of prospect and Refuge by Jay Appleton explains us how built environment can influence human mood and behavior. The principles of this theory are tested on living and working environments, and then applied to create one homogeneous campus environment for both the activities; in order to achieve highest mental satisfaction of being in a built environment.
Why live and work in the same campus?
In the times that we're in, Covid-19 impacts on the world made us reflect on our lifestyles in so many different ways. People have started to work from their homes and adapt both the activities in one space. However, the homes in which we live and the places where we work are not designed to satisfy the requirements of both environments. This campus will create a psychologically balanced, requirement-specific unique environment to carry out the two main activities together smoothly.
Live and work? | Live or work?
The individual units are designed based on many iterations combining the living/working requirements with the Prospect and Refuge theory. Based on the iterations I came up with six units, which could provide a balanced Prospect and Refuge for Living environments and working environments individually and combined. The mixed cluster includes smaller units, which can be used either as a living space or a work space. And larger units for a combined live + Work environment.
Transition between Live and Work
The users can choose to have their live and work spaces anywhere in the campus. Although the campus is designed to give users a journey from the home to their work. And thus the transition occurs from a formal to informal and vice-versa. For example: You could leave your office and have more than one options, either to the gym, or to one of the many informal study booths and common rooms, or to the cafe or the library before finally reaching home.
Prospect and Refuge between the units
The units are elevated up to 4 different levels and are kept much farther away from each other. Such an arrangement, opens up abundant amount of prospect not mentioning the natural and sunlight. The distance in between the units, and the vertical openings in the facade facing the corridors, and opposite faced openings for views give them a sense of privacy and Refuge
Campus for life
In post Covid times, we have to adapt to the new way of living where living and working in isolation should be spatially linked and easily transferable. This campus combines these two environments and merges it with the spatial understanding that The Prospect and Refuge Theory provides us. Which could generate a psychologically balanced/satisfying/pleasant environment.
