Morphing euphoria a hybrid architecture aiding in the deterrence of adolescents from drugs use
Date
2018
Authors
Vahabzadeh, Yasemin
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Abstract
The social issue of substance use disorder,
predominantly amongst the youth, has proven to be
one of the rifest in the world, particularly within the
South African context. This issue has taken over
15% of South Africa’s population.
The Rosettenville community is a historically prominent
community with a recent drug epidemic. Therefore
using this community this research report explores,
through design principles and typologies, how to
create a hybrid architecture which incorporates
a youth centre and a safe house to aid in the
deterrence of adolescents from drug use.
This research report discusses an architectural
response that is directly linked to the way in which
drugs deteriorate the user. Just as drugs eat away
from a person both emotionally and physically, the
designed building eats into the flat landscape of
the chosen site. Once the user acknowledges their
issues and wants to regain purpose of their lives
they will begin to rebuild themselves. However, they
will never return to their original state, and so the
building speaks the same language of intentionally
cutting into the landscape and building up from those
foundations. This gives both the general public and
individuals with drug use disorder a purpose in all
the building aspects.