Female Correctional Facility; Open Prison Design

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Description

Open prison, or pre-release prison block, is the last fortress to address issues among inmates that might lead to reoffending and reincarceration. It could hold the key to ease this long term concern which will improve ex-inmates well-being, functionality, and eventually the public’s perception towards inmates in general. It will have a progressive but impactful effect on society as a whole. Thus, it became our project’s focus.

Our concern to address reincarceration among inmates led us toward their mental health issues (Post Incarceration Syndrome), impaired decision making skills from an extensive period of living under strict orders, and a lack of necessary occupational skills and education to legally support themselves. Our programs focus on self-improvements while maintaining a serene atmosphere and a warm community to help encourage the growth. Gender-specific aspects are to be considered thoroughly, for instance, the inmate’s social behavior such as relatively low violence and intense social needs. As for the security and quality of life, the officer’s side is just as important as the inmates, and is concerned in our design as well.

Its concept decodes the atmosphere found in Forest Therapy/Forest Bathing, which helps with various mental health issues. We then implement them in our own design through architectural elements, lighting, and perception, in hope of simulating and achieving similar effects, while maintaining harmony between the nature and the artificial.

Project Advisor: Wirote Tessalee
Partnerships: Pusayama Wattanaruengsakul, Budsaba Pananon