The research has explored the physical and mental duality of the nature of addiction and established the corresponding physiological and psychological therapies currently used to treat it. It has been illustrated, that one's perception of self impacted, in part, by one's perception of the built environment, contributes to both the physical and mental onset of addiction. Subsequently the research has discussed how one's perceptions of their environment are formed, and the ways in which the built environment can encourage a positive perception of self, in being mindful of the personal and cultural diversity of its users and provide a multitude of opportunity for social interaction and direct and physical participation with the objects in one's environment. The research has shown that a person- centred, all-perceptual-systems-go approach; firmly rooted in identifying with the existing social, cultural and temporal contexts and seeking to enhance them; is required to make the
112 | P a g e built environment and thereby mans' life experience, meaningful. If the built environment can affect the senses it can change perceptions.
6.2.1 Life-Discovery - A Design Approach
It is imperative that the built environment that caters to recovering addicts, fosters transparent, communal, socio-petal and non-hierarchical spaces that discourage the secrecy, silence and judgment that feed the growth of shame. Physical participation in cognitive behavioural therapies is crucial in truly gaining knowledge and understanding in order to positively modify one's negative self-image and unhealthy behaviours - making the built environment physically and mentally challenging with 'rewards' after the completion of these challenges conditions the user to sustain modified and positive behaviours. Using the body to stretch its limits and thus inspiring a sense of one's own personal vulnerability as well as encouraging a sense of compassion for ourselves and others in understanding our own physical 'frailty
It is clear from the case studies that although spiritual principles and practices are at the centre of the 12-step recovery programme as also highlighted by the survey results and focus group discussion, little focused attention is given to the numinous in the built environment.
The concept remains a cerebral one to be learned formally in the course of attending meetings and doing stepwork. From the philosophical underpinning of behaviourism, ecological psychology and phenomenology, it is clear that formal learning is inadequate in the holistic cognition of self, as one progresses towards fulfilling the advanced humans needs of self- actualization and transcendence which are critical in sustaining recovery. To truly come to know something, one must engage in it physically as well as mentally in order to facilitate informal and sub-conscious learning via the perceptual systems through direct interaction with stimuli in the built environment. A dedicated space that captures a silent atmosphere of spiritual reverence affords a deliberate focus on the central theme of recovery and the opportunity for a deep and inherent learning of it. The built environment must visualize and contemplate the existing site topography to become meaningful.
113 | P a g e The following are a list of issues, identified in the research process, as having potential for improvement through careful architectural design, as suggested alongside:
Isolation: Design elements that encourage visual contact, social integration and shared responsibilities.
'Spiritual' (non-denominational!) Disease : Facilitate an ordered and structured lifestyle without being overly controlling but encouraging a healthy mentality.
The provision of a dedicated space that captures silence and introspection.
Stigma and Shame : The architectural language should embody a new attitude to addicts and addiction treatment without looking institutional or out of place within the context, so as to encourage its discreet use by those not comfortable with identifying with it.
Privacy : Access should allow for private and public entry for various functions so as to avoid singling out and potential victimization of patients or visitors to the facility.
Security : Security, especially in the early stages of recovery, is vitally important to the addict and the public in general. It needs to be maintained in a discrete and humane way so that the recovery process is not perceived as imprisonment.
Gender Differences : It is imperative that men and women's' sleeping areas are separated and as men and women respond differently to treatment, single-sex meetings need to be accommodated.
The Family Unit : Single-parent family units should be accommodated, as well as units that may accommodate couples and couples with children.
Limited Financial Resources (Human, economic and ecological) :
Human resource limitations are an opportunity to use the expertise of previous guests and other recovering addicts, including those staying at the centre to form a large part of the staff body. This concept of everyone contributing to the daily workings of not only themselves but the facility offers opportunity for a reciprocal relationship where the facility and the guests benefit mutually from it. Similar to the concept of a kibbutz and in line with the principles of social and economic Marxism, everyone's shared efforts reinforce the sense of community and belonging as well as exponentially increasing the efficacy of the therapeutic community.
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The need for economic resourcefulness also offers an interesting opportunity to find innovative solutions to the problem. Some of which may be looking at how the building construction/technology can realistically reduce overall running costs of the facility, how it may be built on a limited budget in the first place in the hopes of being more attractive to investors, financiers and government and what management and therapeutic systems may be implemented to achieve the ends within as small a budget as possible.
Ecological resourcefulness is necessary in general, not only in construction and not only in the construction of rehabilitation centres. The use of natural, locally available materials reinforces the contextual belonging and embodied Genius Loci of the scheme, rooting it in its place and augmenting the perception of belonging to its users and their normal environment, thereby lessening initial apprehension and hopefully working to demystify the whole subject. The use of natural materials also goes to the atmosphere of care and wellbeing in reconnecting with nature.
Poverty and Education : Sustained recovery is more likely should recovering addicts have the tools to become financially as well emotionally independent thereafter. Life skills and parenting classes should be accommodated as well as focused training for the (current) job market. This concept leans to the provision of flexible learning spaces that may allow for a variety of training purposes that can also be opened to the public as a centre for skills development and another source of income for the centre. Thus the facility can contribute to the greater community it forms a part of, becoming a hub of healthy and empowering lifestyle choices.
6.2.2 The Topography of Health - An Approach to Locality
The research has shown that what is critical to ensuring the built environment's capacity for improving the effectiveness of addiction treatment, is the provision for a sense of belonging to a place, derived from one's personal and cultural identification with it and coupled with a sense of safety and emotional security, consequent of its perceived and understood spatial organization. In terms of providing a centre for addiction therapy, that is both physical and mentally accessible - most notably in a cultural context as diverse as Durban's - intermediate areas, along the periphery of urban areas and the public transport routes provide for this.
115 | P a g e However, where urban locations offer an enriched built environment, that provides the mental and physical stimulation beneficial to the treatment of brain diseases such as addiction; they do not offer much opportunity for a response to the existing natural topology, unique to a particular place. Urban built environments are also filled with noise pollution amongst others, which is detrimental to an overall sense of peaceful, well-being.
According to the research, the location of rehabilitation centres should be based on existing public transport infrastructure; adequate opportunity for expressing the natural topography of a site; allow for a maximising of optimum light from the correct orientation and within enough of a distance from external social environments to avoid isolation and far enough away to afford privacy and the intrusion of unwanted noises. In these ways, from selecting the site, the built environment is poised to positively impact the process of recovery from addiction.