Designing a Pathway from Solitary to Solidarity

Abstract

Architecture typically blends creativity with the focus on providing pleasurable experiences for end users. Custodial architecture often overlooks these aspects. Prisons are traditionally viewed as facilities for punishment and retribution. This approach adversely affects inmates’ psychological well-being and hinders their reintegration into society post-release. Consequently, many nations today face a rise in prison population due to higher recidivism rates. This thesis aims to transform this paradigm by developing a transitional space that seeks to reform convicts and facilitates their reintegration into society. This facility is adopted in the infamous Scorpion Prison in Egypt, notorious for its inhumane conditions. To design a model that achieves a middle ground between the harsh conditions of the prison and the daily lifestyle of the general population, an analysis of case studies of confinement facilities and reentry programs will be undertaken, focusing on the key architectural elements that may have contributed to certain outcomes.