STEP GARDENS

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YALE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 3 

CRITIC: RACHELY ROTEM

FALL 2021

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STEP (SPECIALIZED TREATMENT EARLY IN PSYCHOSIS) GARDENS IS DRIVEN BY THE IDEA OF GARDENS AS HEALING. THE CALMING SENSORIAL EXPERIENCE OF THESE GARDENS, ITS SMELLS IN PARTICULAR, IS A PART OF THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS. SMELL, WHICH IS SO HEAVILY LINKED TO OUR FACULTIES OF MEMORY, GUIDES PATIENTS TO CREATE THEIR OWN ROUTINE WITHIN THIS STEP CENTER - A ROUTINE LINKED TO BOTH MEMORY AND SMELL. AS ONE STROLLS THROUGH THESE GARDENS, THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ARE BLURRED THROUGH A SYSTEM OF SUBTLE SHIFTS. THE MAN-MADE AND THE NATURAL BLEND TOGETHER TO CREATE A SECONDARY NATURE - A NATURE THAT PROVIDES BOTH A SENSE OF FREEDOM AND A SENSE OF SAFETY AND COMFORT. NOT ONLY IS THIS GARDEN ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE INTENDED TO SERVE SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS AS BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND AS A COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS INTENDED TO ACT AS A PLACE OF RESPITE FOR ACCOMPANYING FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, NEARBY STUDENTS AND WORKERS, AND OTHER TYPES OF VISITORS. 

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SITE: NEW HAVEN, CT

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