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Therapeutic Architecture for mental health: the SCP model for facilities
planning, design and evaluation

Presentation · April 2015

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Evangelia Chrysikou
University College London
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 Therapeutic architecture for mental health: the SCP model for facilities planning,
design and evaluation

Introduction

The lack of pre-existing references and experience on behalf of all stakeholders on

community mental health facilities in all parts of the world transferred the challenge to
architects. The latter, responded with buildings indicating experimentation and lack of
knowledge.
Objectives

The research questioned the existing frameworks of designing for mental health in terms of fit
for purpose.
Aims

The creation of a model for the planning the design and the evaluation of mental health
facilities, that would be in accordance to the needs of the patients and in compliance with
what the therapeutic team considers as best practice.
Methods

A study on the accommodation for mentally ill people took place in two European countries
with diverse care models. The physical locus of the research has been the Community Mental
Health Center (UK) and the Foyer de Post Cure (France). Empirical data were collected and
triangulated from 10 facilities via architectural auditing of the buildings, the development of a
215 point architectural checklist and interviews of 65 residents and 50 staff members.
Results

This research indicated the ineffectiveness of non-evidence based architectural

experimentation to address the specific needs of patients. The performance of the cases
study buildings increased when there had been involved staff and client representatives, from
the beginning. The research resulted in a fit for purpose model for viewing the design of
mental health care facilities. That model is named the SCP model and is based on three axes
-safety and security, competence and personalization and choice.
Conclusions

The model introduced a paradigm shift in the planning and the design of mental health
facilities. It could serve for the planning and the design of new community based facilities
such as Community Mental Health Centers as well as the evaluation existing ones. The
research can be adjustable to cover different geographical contexts and mental health
building types, being important for countries that develop their community mental health
facilities now as well as those that are modernising their existing services.

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