The architecture of hope; the power of architecture in cancer care

Abstract

Statistics show that 1 in 3 will get cancer during their lifetime. However, 72% of everyone diagnosed with cancer in Sweden survives and many live on with cancer as a chronic disease. As the number of people surviving with cancer increases, so does the need for additional support besides medicinal care. In 2023, a cancer care centre was opened in Gothenburg, Kraftens Hus (eng. the House of Power). The centre would by focusing on life, not the disease, provide care continuum, long-term psychosocial support and a community for sharing thoughts and experiences. Today, the centre is renting space at a local church. However, there are issues with privacy and freedom of movement within the building and when the organization of Kraftens Hus grows, there will also be an issue of space. Evidence suggests that a building could have a healing effect on a physical state. There is also a discussion on a building’s possibility to affect a mental state by atmosphere. A building could embody a sense of hope. This thesis’s purpose is to investigate: How can a future vision of Kraftens Hus in Gothenburg be designed for spatial and contextual needs while influencing physical health and an emotional state of hope? Literature studies, case studies and interviews are conducted to investigate the spatial needs and context for a future Kraftens Hus. Relevant theory is gathered on healing architecture and hope through atmospheric architecture. Findings are presented as a site proposal, an architectural program and 6 design strategies for healing and atmospheric architecture. The design strategies include movement, social scale, light, nature, sensory experience and volume. A design proposal is made to combine findings and to answer the research question. I believe that a future vision of Kraftens Hus can be designed for spatial and contextual needs while influencing physical health and an emotional state of hope. The different factors could even complement each other and foster the experience of hope and hopefully, the thesis can contribute to the discussion on cancer care and physical and emotional support besides medicinal care.