Abstract:
Mental health is just one part of what makes up a person’s overall health. However mental health
can often be overlooked until one’s adult years. There are many children who go undiagnosed
and therefore lack the care they need. Mental disorders have a variety of ways that affect a
person such as communication issues, social interactions, or behavioral challenges. In children
this can be heightened.
There are different therapy methods that help children and their families through acceptance,
healing, rehabilitation, and coping. One successful method is animal assisted therapy. This thesis
explores the design of a mental health facility that encourages connections between children or
teens and animals.
The design of this facility also supports the growth of relationships between children or teens and
nature. These connections are created through the integrated use of green roofs, sensory gardens,
and biophilic design. This thesis design creates an environment that allows the young users to
discover and interact with nature, animals, and each other during their journey in mental health.
