Campus Oasis: A Sanctuary for Learning & Wellness

Abstract

The relationship between the built environment and its occupants can have a negative and positive effect on their wellbeing. Students across all college campuses experience stress, depression, and anxiety. The stress of academia can be impacted from the built environment, however, the spaces we decide to be in can relieve the stress if designed properly. Mental health support for students is a critical issue that can be addressed architecturally with biophilic design. The goal of this thesis is to explore the relationships between environmental psychology and the built environment to design spaces that improve the occupant’s well-being. The architecture embodies wellness shared with the natural and built environment with the focus on the user experience. Concepts such as phenomenology and biophilic design will be applied to design a welcoming and healing environment. The design of a spa and wellness center will function as a haven for the students and staff of an institution to decompress, relax, learn, feel motivated and feel relieved. The project will become a precedent for other colleges and universities to support their community against mental health issues.