Socio-architecture
Encyclopedia
Socio-architecture is a phrase coined by psychologist Humphry Osmond
and Canadian architect Kyo Izumi as part of their research for the best architectural form for Osmond's Weyburn Mental Hospital
in 1951.
Osmond is best known for his research into the treatment of schizophrenia
with psychedelic drug
s, but his Weyburn hospital became a design research lab to examine the functional aspects of architecture and its impact on the mentally ill. Osmond based his ideas of hospital design on the species-habitat work of German zoologist Heini Hediger
, and on the research acid trips he took with Izumi.
Osmond also coined the terms "sociopetal" and "sociofugal" to describe seating arrangement that encouraged or discouraged social interaction. His 1957 article “Function as the basis of psychiatric ward design” is considered a minor classic. His work regarding architecture was continued by his colleague Robert Sommer.
Humphry Osmond
Humphry Fortescue Osmond was a British psychiatrist known for inventing the word psychedelic and for using psychedelic drugs in medical research...
and Canadian architect Kyo Izumi as part of their research for the best architectural form for Osmond's Weyburn Mental Hospital
Souris Valley Mental Health Hospital
Souris Valley Mental Health Hospital also called the Souris Valley Extended Care Centre was a public hospital in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Originally called the Weyburn Mental Hospital when opened in 1921, it was the largest building in The British Commonwealth and was considered on the cutting edge...
in 1951.
Osmond is best known for his research into the treatment of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
with psychedelic drug
Psychedelic drug
A psychedelic substance is a psychoactive drug whose primary action is to alter cognition and perception. Psychedelics are part of a wider class of psychoactive drugs known as hallucinogens, a class that also includes related substances such as dissociatives and deliriants...
s, but his Weyburn hospital became a design research lab to examine the functional aspects of architecture and its impact on the mentally ill. Osmond based his ideas of hospital design on the species-habitat work of German zoologist Heini Hediger
Heini Hediger
Heini Hediger was a Swiss zoologist noted for work in proxemics in animal behavior and is known as the "father of zoo biology". Hediger was formerly the director of Tierpark Dählhölzli , Zoo Basel and Zürich Zoo ....
, and on the research acid trips he took with Izumi.
Osmond also coined the terms "sociopetal" and "sociofugal" to describe seating arrangement that encouraged or discouraged social interaction. His 1957 article “Function as the basis of psychiatric ward design” is considered a minor classic. His work regarding architecture was continued by his colleague Robert Sommer.