Fusion
The title of this project is Fusion which is “The emplacement of dissociative space, and the Synthesis of Asylums”.
Fusion creates new architecture within the Weskoppies Psychiatric hospital by analysing it as its own city. It achieves this by considering the mental illnesses of the people that will experience the space and uses the methodology of psychotherapy to create therapeutic architecture. According to the philosopher Michel Foucault, Heterotopias are places that do exist and are formed in the very founding of society. They are found outside of all places. Mental health centres are not immune to power dynamics, as they are spaces which are critically reserved for specific individuals. With reference to Foucault’s first principle of heterotopia, these spaces were typically seen as a human environment in which they live in a state of crisis and throughout the project this will be investigated through a series of four different test.
The tests are based off a narrative methodology which is framed around the patient named Jacob Smith, he was diagnosed with Dissociative identity disorder 15 years ago. This diagnosis is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality identities in the mind of a single individual. Jacob has 4 other alters named Alex, Theodore, Alice and Steven.
In conclusion various options of the design was based on the research done in relation to the allegory of the project. It was revealed that four potential designs can be implemented. There may not be one single solution to this project due to the fact that it is based upon a specific user allegorically but it can be adapted and made to suit many different users with Dissociative Identity disorder.
