REVIVING THE MINDS THROUGH NATURE: THERAPEUTIC MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN BATAM

• Main Author: Taqia Alnindya, Diandri
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/59620
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Batam has the highest number of people with severe mental disorders in Kepulauan Riau. However, the absence of mental health treatment facilities and the lack of public knowledge awareness about mental health problems have led to the emergence of a bad stigma against mental disorders. This project offers a solution for these issues by presenting mental health services with a vision to improve mental health status of the community and play an active role in improving patient’s independence, especially in the Kepulauan Riau. The location for this project is on Hang Lekui Street, Sambau, Nongsa District, Batam. This district was chosen because it is an area with the highest number of people with mental disorders every year, therefore the presence of the facility is expected to contribute directly to handle the problem in this area. In addition, the site which located on the coast and has rich natural potential is expected to create a restorative and therapeutic environment. To maximize the potential of nature around the site, the selected design approach is environmental integration. The basic concept is "Nature Outside to be Healing Inside", which can be interpreted that the design facility and the surrounding environment are an integral part of the healing environment. The main facilities that has been designed are curative and rehabilitative services. As an effort to empower the community, promotive and preventive services are also provided as supporting facilities. In this way, the project's target audience is not only limited to people with mental disorders, but also to the general public and communities who care about mental health. The mass of the building is based on the four facilities that have been mentioned with the division of zoning according to the needs of each facility. The highest contour in the site is used for the most private function of space and it gets more public as it gets further down. To maximize the outer side and inner side integration of the building, a form finding process is taken. As a result, a lotus flower shaped is created with an analogy which means that difficult times can finally produce beautiful outcome. The building has a total area of 8658.5 m2 with 2 floors in several section of the building. Moreover, the building also implements several sustainable design attempts, such as the application of solar panels as an alternative source of electricity and the use of rainwater as garden irrigation.