Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mental Health and The Arts - A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts, University of The Philippines Diliman
Mental Health and The Arts - A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts, University of The Philippines Diliman
BS Architecture
College of Architecture
University of the Philippines Diliman
Date of Submission
March 2018
Research Proposal
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
ABSTRACT
With all the recent news regarding the spread of mental health disorders in college
students, it is very alarming to know that there is only minimal effort to stop this stigma.
From a designer's perspective, there is a need to study more on how the working
Ironically, studies show that artists are more prone to mental health disorders as
producing something without consideration of issues that arise from merely losing
Fine Arts and Architecture--demands better working environments to help them in their
creative process; and to lessen the events of creative block, anxiety, or depression.
Architecture library and studio laboratory, and the UP College of Fine Arts
CHAPTER I: Introduction
2.1 Rationale
This study’s main benefactors are:
Designers. This study aims to help professionals/student-professionals in both
the Architecture and Interior Design fields in analyzing how certain design
elements work and how they can manipulate these in creating more effective
library and studio designs.
Architecture and Fine Arts Majors. As the main subjects for this research,
this study will benefit Architecture and Fine Arts majors in determining how
the design of their libraries and studio laboratories affects their mental health.
General Public. This study aims to raise awareness in the minds of the public
that arts majors are more prone to mental health illnesses and that they need
more design considerations for their workstations.
2.4 Objectives
2.4.1 To discuss and understand how libraries and studio laboratories develop or
deteriorate the mental health status of Fine Arts and Architecture majors through
the following factors:
a. verbal
b. non-verbal responses
2.4.2 To trace and evaluate the link between the physical environment of the said
spaces and the development or deterioration of the mental health status of the
students
Raising awareness. This study aims to raise awareness on the current mental
health status of Fine Arts and Architecture majors through evaluating their overall
experience while staying in the library and studio laboratories within their colleges:
whether these spaces enhance their creativity and motivation; or the exact opposite.
Emphasis on design considerations. This study will help further understand the
spatial and non-spatial factors that consciously and sub-consciously affect the mood
and behavior of the users. In this way, there will be a better understanding on how
libraries and studio laboratories designs be able to maximize its capability to rather
enhance the mood and creativity of students—through the application of
psychoanalysis.
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
2.7 Assumptions
2.7.1 It is assumed that there is poor ventilation and air quality, and acoustics in
the UP College of Architecture studio laboratory based on mere on site
observations. Therefore, it is also assumed that the openness of this space due to
high ceiling height, large space area, and the fact that it doesn’t have means of
enclosures have significant effects on the students’ performance.
2.7.2 Due to the fact that the UP College of Fine Arts building is old, it is assumed
that there is also poor air quality and acoustics in the studios.
2.8 Hypothesis
The key architectural elements and environmental factors assumed in the
evaluation of the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts libraries and studio
laboratories contributes to the deterioration of the mental health status of students.
Anxiety is a feeling of extreme tension and/or panic that arises from worried
thoughts, which if worsened can lead to a serious mental health disorder
2.9.4 Creative Block
Creative Block pertains to an experience of lacking ideas and/or failure of
translating an idea to a creative piece
2.9.5 Depression
Depression is a mental disorder that is often characterized by feelings of extreme
sadness, emptiness, pessimism, and sudden ignorance to hobbies or interests
2.9.6 Functionalism
Functionalism is an architectural theory that pertains to Sullivan's axiom: "form
follows function." It states that the users must primarily experience the
established function of a space before looking at the aesthetics
2.9.7 Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a theory which states that there are many factors that causes
great effects on an individual's behavior and way of thinking without being aware
of it
2.9.8 Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder often characterized by symptoms of
hallucinations, depression, and bipolarism
Anxiety is a feeling of extreme tension and/or panic that arises from worried
thoughts, which if worsened can lead to a serious mental health disorder (Found
in pages: 4, 5)
2.10.4 Creative Block
Creative Block pertains to an experience of lacking ideas and/or failure of
translating an idea to a creative piece (Found in pages: 4, 5)
2.10.5 Depression
Depression is a mental disorder that is often characterized by feelings of extreme
sadness, emptiness, pessimism, and sudden ignorance to hobbies or interests
(Found in pages: 4, 5, 11, 12)
2.10.6 Functionalism
Functionalism is an architectural theory that pertains to Sullivan's axiom: "form
follows function." It states that the users must primarily experience the
established function of a space before looking at the aesthetics (Found in pages:
14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
2.10.7 Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a theory which states that there are many factors that causes
great effects on an individual's behavior and way of thinking without being aware
of it (Found in pages: 7, 15, 16)
2.10.8 Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder often characterized by symptoms of
hallucinations, depression, and bipolarism (Found in pages: 5, 11)
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
3.1 The Impact of School Environments: A literature review, Higgins S., Hall E., Wall,
K., Woolner, P., McCaughey, C., www.researchgate.net, 2005
Higgins et. al., studied the effects of environmental elements such as temperature
and air quality, acoustics, lighting, and color in students’ performance and health to
provide more effective learning environments for Britain’s schools. They found that
ventilation and air quality is indeed the most important key elements for maximum
student performance. However, ventilation per se in educational establishments are
found to be more emphasized as compared to air quality. Poor air quality may cause
air-related health problems for both students, faculty, and staff. Improving it resulted to
lessened absence (Rosen, Richardson, 1999).
This study also found that daylighting is the most beneficial due to its biological
effects. However, this does not suggest that daylight be the mere source of light for
educational facilities. A related study found that combining both direct and artificial
lighting through adaptive modification results to good overall lighting (Barnitt, 2003).
It is also found that color is one of the understudied elements of the physical
environment. Color greatly affects mood and productivity. Some related studies show
that children find the colors of their classroom ‘uninviting and boring,’ (Maxwell,
2000).
3.3 Manic-Depressive Illness and Creativity, Jamison K., Scientific American Inc.,
1995
According to Jamison (1997), “Major depression in both unipolar and bipolar
disorders manifests itself through apathy, lethargy, hopelessness, sleep disturbances,
slowed physical movements and thinking, impaired memory and concentration, and a
loss of pleasure in typically enjoyable events.”
In this study, Jamison selected 47 known British writers and visual artists. The
results show that 38% of the proponents had been treated for a mood disorder; and 75%
of those treated have gone through required medication and hospitalization, or both.
3.4 Architects and Mental Health, Karklins L. and Mendoza J., NSW Architects
Registration Board, 2016
This study mainly focuses on the triggers and risk factors of mental illness in the
architecture field (both in the academe and in practice). Some of the triggers that were
presented were: organizational injustice, project-induced stress, poor interpersonal
relationships, long work hours, and lack of creativity. These can be both applied to
professionals and students.
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
Karklins and Mendoza also stressed a finding of a recent study, which states that
students taking up arts and humanities and design are more likely to experience mental
health issues. A related study by the Graduate Architecture, Landscape, and Design
Student Union (GALDSU), University of Toronto, show that many architecture majors
have irregular eating habits and barely engages in physical activities. (GALDSU, 2013)
Though this may not apply to all cases, the study recognizes the fact that the “studio
culture” may cause problems due to pressure to put it atop all else.
The idea of this theory is to link the intents of the designer/s and the effects of
these intents translated into physical elements. (Lockton, 2012). If applied in the
right manner, this theory can be the treated as the core principle in designing
behavior-changing spaces.
4.1.2 Functionalism
These social institutions include family, religion, education, economy and many
others. Encompassing all of these factors, each of them constitute to the
significance of creating the whole society itself while every factor affects one
another as well inside (Mooney, et.al. 2007).
Weaving the value of the social elements, this theory stated that our society is
ushered by these social structures that is suggestively deemed to create an impact
in our social behaviors and the way we present it. With this, two terms have been
coined to define their effects. An element is marked as functional if it improves or
maintains social stability; whereas an element is dysfunctional if it causes the
deviation from the normal standards of attaining a stability.
According to Merton, there are also two types of functions; one is manifest and
the other is latent. Manifest functions lies above the surface wherein the results
and motivations are intentional and easily seen whereas the latent functions
embody a concealed consequence that are also, unintentional.
4.1.3 Psychoanalysis
The researcher chose three theories: two of which are directly linked to design, and
another that is purely psychological. Since the study aims to analyze what factors or
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
elements develop or deteriorate the mental health status of students within the scope of
study, it was necessary to bridge psychology and design.
Threading how the Architectural Determinism stated that the environment
influences the corresponding behavior of the people that resides in a certain
architectural space, Functionalism is interconnected with this theory in a manner that
social structures specifically of education which is used in this study undergirds the
significance of facilities in the life of a student.
According to Functionalism, these social structures influences social behaviors
from which the “functionality” and the “dysfunctionality” of the facilities will be
evaluated with which further details on how this will be done will be discussed in the
conceptual framework. These social behaviors are then, categorized as manifested -
intentional and seen and latent - unseen and unintentional. As the study progresses, the
researcher will assess how these meanings connect to the significance and mechanism
of Structural Functionalism in the study.
After emphasizing the significance of architectural designs in how it shapes the
behavior of the people that utilizes these spaces, the researcher will now tackle the
response side of the people that occupies these places. Thus, the importance of the
Theory of Pyschoanalysis by Sigmond Freud will be tackled. Delving through the deep-
seated psyche of the study, this theory is connected to the other two theories in a way
that it will help in further analyzing the ‘unconscious factors’ present in a specific space
that affects the behavior and attitudes of the users.
clarifies how space should be the root of the concept, the design of the whole building.
He highlighted how spaces creates significant meanings in rendering to needs of man;
that spaces should be the finish line, and not just an unintentional margin or allowance
of the total design. Sewing his argument together, Scully expressed that the most
notable orchestration that architecture could administer is the existence of human
psyche inside which are the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of humanity.
Basing all these things in the architectural and design perspectives, Louis Sullivan,
an architect and also recognized as the father of modernism and skyscrapers was often
connected with the idea, “form follows function.” He remarked how architectural
designs should prioritize the needs of man first before creating a grand design through
these art forms. These needs thus, constitute to what is called the tripod of human needs.
Functionalism perceives beyond what the eyes can see, and eliminates all forms of
physical structures that are alienated with function. Griffin also reiterated that no
functionalists will construct monumental infrastructures just for the sake of facade if
the people living inside will be at risk. This theory responds to the reality that since
people embodies diverse set of requirements in all aspects of living, designing
architecture in a way that would aid in alleviating his or her stress to adjust will be
recognized as a big milestone. (A. Van Eyck)
According to Ponti, form is mean to proceed function. Form is described as not
bound to be disconnected from function most especially if the principle grounds it in
the concepts of essentiality and truth. A building can only stand if it is rooted in the
groundworks of rendering to the needs of people, the truthfulness of the purpose and
the fulfillment of these goals (Griffin, 1966).
Maximizing the factors stated by the theory of Functionalism, one of the social
structure that influences social behaviors which will be most vital in the study is the
education. Since the researcher will study the development or deterioration that studios
for Fine Arts major and libraries for Architecture students in University of the
Philippines Diliman render, these places are now bound to be analyzed as either
“functional” or “dysfunctional” for these students.
In order to execute this, the researcher will now look at the manifest and latent
meanings that these students communicate. Connecting to the statement of the theory,
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
the researcher will observe how these spaces inside these places are utilized by the
students; the way they move and respond to the places they are in. The researcher will
assess how these set of places engage or disengage the learning motivation of the
students by analyzing through the seen and intentional or the unseen and unintentional
verbal and nonverbal expressions they make.
Hence, since the theory wires the essence of functionalism in fulfilling the needs
of man, the researcher will heavily look into this by analyzing whether the library and
the studios satisfy the intellectual and emotional needs of the students (the spiritual
needs will not be included in the study).
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
5.1 Overview
This study is opt to adopt a case study, experimental, and survey approach. Case
studies will help the research to analyze what specific phenomena has worked, what
issues has been faced and how to improve on the overall data. It would be necessary to
analyze different cases for the researcher to be able to come up with a more generalized
conclusion. To aid in the data gathering of the technical areas of the research, it would
also be necessary to make use of the experimental method in which the researcher
would manipulate and control different variables; and survey method to accurately
gather the information needed by seeing through different perspectives.
Case Studies. This will be done through analyzing some already existing data
from past researches to be compared to the data that will be gathered through
experimental and survey methods.
Experimental. By being able to manipulate a certain variable and control
other variables; in order to gather data through the means of analyzing one effect at a
time.
Surveys. Surveys will be done through questionnaires that aims to target
answers from the main users of the said spaces, and be able to compare them with the
data gathered through the experimental method.
Mental Health and the Arts:
A Spatial Analysis of Libraries and Studio Laboratories in
the College of Architecture and College of Fine Arts in
University of the Philippines Diliman
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bryant, M. (2012). Physical Environments Conducive To Creativity and
Collaboration Within the Work Environment. Retrieved from:
https://etd.ohiolink.edu/pg_1?0
Karklins L. & Mendoza J. (2016). Literature Review: Architects and mental health. A
report prepared for the NSW Architects Registration Board, ConNetica, Caloundra,
Qld.
Higgins, Steven & Hall, Elaine & Wall, Kate & Woolner, Pam & McCaughey, C.
(2005). The Impact of School Environments: A Literature Review. The Centre for
Learning and Teaching-School Education, Communication and Language Science.
University of Newcastle.
Porteous, J. D. (1977). Environment & behavior: Planning and everyday urban life.
Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.
Maxwell L. & Evans G. (2002). The Effects of Noise on Pre-school Children's Pre-
reading Skills, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 20, 91-97
Barnitt, H. (2003). Lighting for the Future, Building Services Journal: The magazine
for the CIBSE, 25, 1, 38-39
Chalmers, F. (1971). Towards a theory of art anc ulture as a foundation for art
education, Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon.