A place for people suffering with schizophrenia to live

Schizophrenia represent 1% of the population, pretty much everywhere. That's a lot of people in need of care. This project is a conceptual sketch of what a facility for them might look like and how it could function.

This is the program to which the building and landscaping respond:

• The facility is both a residence and a place for the community to learn about this disease.
• There are different levels of progress in treating this condition, and the building needs to reflect this.
• The entire project should be as sustainable ("green") as possible
• A kitchen, dining area, offices, rooms and patios allow people to relax in different areas
• The environment should be relaxing and feel more like a home than a hospital.

The sketch shown here is not located anywhere specific, except that it would be in Sacramento for purposes of energy and landscape planning.

Green features include natural light, extensive use of solar panels for heating water and generating electricity, capture of runoff water for green roofs, water conserving plants, green building materials and shaded parking.

There are different types of residential units - designed according to the level the client has attained in treatment.

Some areas, such as the patio and dining facility, will also be used for client/family gatherings and possibly community events designed to spread knowledge about schizophrenia.

Click on the red dots to see sketches corresponding to their location.