Amidst the Olive Trees: A Dalmatian Grove for Mental Rehabilitation

Abstract

Suicides are one of the leading causes of death from injuries in Croatia. The groups most at risk are those struggling with mental illnesses and those over 60 — due to loneliness and loss of familial and inter-personal roles. How can architecture consider these issues and create a safe place that rehabilitates those in need? This proposed mental health centre is designed to benefit the mental and physical health of its users, as well as to create the social connections that were previously absent in their lives. Using the key words of health, culture, connection, environment, and productivity, an architectural and programmatic framework was created. It was then applied to the Šibenik-Knin county — a problematic area on Croatia’s coast. Situated specifically in an abandoned olive grove on the outskirts of Tisno, where a symbiotic relationship is created as the users rejuvenate the grove and the grove helps rejuvenate in return.