A Place To Die

• Main Author: Lizarraga, Sergio Remy
• Other Authors: Architecture
• Format: Others
• Published: Virginia Tech 2018
• Subjects: Architectures effect on death
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/85153

Understand that death is a part of life and having to experience close family members and loved ones pass away is something we will all go through. The absence of architecture during this significant part of life propelled me to research and propose a space that would provide patients humane care. With counseling, therapy and palliative care the patient would ultimately be able to live out their remaining moments in comfort and tranquility. Historically death had been sudden and with little warning but with advances in medicine and technology predicting when one's life will come to an end due to illness or old age has become a reality. Currently and in the future we will live a period of time knowing when our life will end. Reaching this period in our existence, I feel that architecture should play a more significant role than it does now. In my opinion large facilities designed to accommodate as many patients as possible with long poorly lite corridors make a terminally ill patients experience an afterthought and financial stability the main objective. With my thesis I plan to explore how architecture could elevate the spirits of the patient, their loved ones and the staff guiding them through this difficult time. Located in Melvin C. Hazen Park in Washington DC, the project places all three parties in an oasis within the city. The goal of the project became to provide palliative care for the patients in a space that would allow them to experience the remainder of their lives with dignity and to seamlessly allow visitors and staff to support the patient during this time. Historically death had been sudden and with little warning but with advances in medicine and technology predicting when one's life is coming to an end is a reality. We now and in the future will live a period of time knowing when our life will end. Reaching this period in our existence I feel that architecture should play a more significant role that what we have now. Large facilities with long poorly lite corridors and rooms designed to accommodate as my patients as possible has created in my opinion places where patients and what they experience is secondary and where the bottom line is primary. My thesis was to explore how architecture could elevate the spirits of the patient, the loved one accompanying these patients in this time and the staff guiding them. Located in Melvin C Hazen Park in Washington DC the project removes all three parties and places them in an oasis within the city. The Goal of the project became to provide palliative care for the patience in a space that would allow them to experience the remainder of their lives with dignity and to seamlessly allow visitors and staff to support the patient during this time. === Master of Architecture