The social work oasis: A building transformation for social services to restore the connection with nature and to promote well-being
Publicerad
Författare
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
For the last few years, research on
how to design for one’s well-being has
significantly increased. This is because
there is more interest in the topic and
a greater need for it due to still rising
mental health problems. This also
applies for working environments, since
these spaces are historically built to be
efficient and are not about the comfort
of the user. Additionally, the majority of
people spend most of their day at an
office.
Therefore this thesis aims to transform
an existing social centre into a healthy
working environment for body and
mind while actively using nature. The
research question which is used is:
How can the transformation of a social
service building, in Gothenburg, prevent
mental health issues, and promote wellbeing
for the users while reconnecting
them with nature?
The social centre is located on
Lergöksgatan 2A in Gothenburg and
focusses on children and youth and
their parents/guardians.
The methods include literature
research on Swedish social centres,
Health Promotive Building Design,
Salutogenesis and Biophilia. These
theories are used since they are proven
to be effective for promoting well-being
and reconnecting workers with nature.
Then a speculative reprogramming
is made to change the tone of social
centres from an institutional, to a
positive inviting character. For this
specific location, integrating a family
centre is the key. The literature and
speculative reprogramming is used to
analyse the social centre. Together with
a survey, which was sent to the social
workers on location, this information
is used to gain an understanding of
strengths and weaknesses of the
current situation. In order to make the
design proposal, design strategies are
made from which are used as a tool
for this project. They can also be used
as a base for other projects which aim
to transform a working environment to
increase the employees well-being and
to give the building a communal values.
The results show that by adding
valuable communal functions (such
as a preschool, library/study space, a
cafe and an interactive garden), and
a positive social service, in this case
a family centre, together with actively
working with recreating nature, a Social
Preventive Care Centre is made.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Social workers, Wellbeing, Biophilia, Salutogenenis, Health promotive building design