Interior design of a comprehensive social and psychological assistance center

Kyiv National University of Technology and Design

Project idea

This project developed the design of a comprehensive social and psychological assistance center in Kyiv, focused on providing psychological, social, legal and other types of assistance to vulnerable groups of the population, including children, the elderly, victims of gender-based or domestic violence, people with physical disabilities, etc. The idea was to create a multifunctional social environment designed to improve the general psychological state of the population.
The overall design solution is designed to create a comfortable and visually pleasant environment that will promote health processes, and at the same time will not burden or distract visitors. The main solutions were an inclusive approach to design, the implementation of biophilic design principles and the use of a minimalist approach to the subject content of the environment. The premises are devoid of visual distractions, unnecessary decorative elements or visual triggers and are designed to be comfortable for staying and moving around. General planning and visual solutions are designed to promote psychological comfort, socialization, and building communicative ties between visitors which in turn will have a positive impact on their morale.

Project description

The project consists of plans for four floors, and visualizations of certain premises. The planning of the underground floor provides for the placement of a technical zone, as well as the simplest autonomous shelter from external threats, designed for people to stay for up to 42 hours, and provides sanitary facilities, a first-aid post, food, as well as separate areas for children. The planning of the first floor provides for the placement of a reception area, a security point, a cafe and a cloakroom for visitors, a large public lecture hall, as well as a point for receiving and issuing humanitarian aid. The second floor consists of social and psychological assistance rooms for different age groups, an administrative block, as well as lawyers' offices and educational classes for creative activities and educational lectures for children. The third floor consists of psychological and social assistance rooms and lecture halls for the adult population. The second part of the floor houses a block of rooms for people who need temporary accommodation in a refuge . The refuge 's premises include 4 rooms for temporary accommodation for up to 4 people, bathrooms and showers, a kitchen, a laundry room, and a public area for guests.
The project also includes visualizations of the reception area, a public lecture hall, a psychological assistance room for adults, a children's room for creative and educational activities, as well as a second-floor hall with a public waiting area.

Technical information

The premises selected for the development of the design project for a comprehensive center for social and psychological assistance to the public are located at 10 Petro Hryhorenko Street, Darnytskyi District, Kyiv and have a total area of 2,336 m². The land plot on which the building is situated covers 0.134 hectares. The building is a new construction, commissioned in 2023, featuring spaces of flexible use that have not yet been leased. The design project includes the development of layouts for three above-ground and one underground spaces, and it encompasses areas designated for providing social, psychological, and legal support, as well as a shelter and a temporary refuge.

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