5 th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance – 9-10 th Dec, 2013. Melbourne Session Title: The Plan Phase: what do we need and where? Dr Shaneen Fantin, Director, People Oriented Design and Adjunct Associate Professor: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland. 1 3.50 – 4:30pm Reminding me of home. Culturally responsive design of landscape and external environments in Indigenous secure and health facilities. Abstract In many states of Australia, Aboriginal prisoners make a large portion of the prison population. In Queensland it is about 30% (ABS 2013), but in prisons in remote areas such as far north Queensland the percentage is much higher. How can the landscape and outdoor environments in such facilities be designed to recognise and support Aboriginal cultural and social practices? Culturally and socially responsive site planning and design can create opportunities for rehabilitation of prisoners through re-connecting with country, enabling Aboriginal social practices and maintaining ethno-botanical knowledge. A number of case studies will be provided. 1.0 Introduction Australia is a vast country with a relatively small Indigenous population, less than 3% (ABS 2013). However the representation of Aboriginal people in prisons in Australia is approximately 30% (ABS 2013). The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) stated that “[t]here are important cultural differences between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal detainees for which accommodation can, and should be made in the context of custodial procedures and cell design” (Johnston 1991 Vol 3 p.235). This paper is written from the perspective of architecture and people-environment studies, and how culturally responsive design of built environments and landscape can create supportive and potentially rehabilitative environments for users. It draws on literature from People Environment Studies, Environmental Psychology and Intercultural Design Practice (Rapoport 1982, Martin and Casault 2005, Bechtel and Churchman 2012). In some parts of the paper I use the term Aboriginal and in other parts Indigenous. This is intentional as one case study is from remote Western Australia where the use of the word Indigenous is not appropriate. Whereas the other case study is from far north Queensland where Indigenous is accepted as a term and regularly interchanged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. I am an architect with a PhD in Architecture and Aboriginal Environments and have been working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on health, housing and secure projects since 1995. I am predominantly a practitioner, but with a keen interest in research and analysis. Today’s paper presents two case studies. One of a prison and one of a health facility which incorporate design principles that aim to provide supportive environments for Aboriginal inmates and patients. The key questions that are at the forefront of this work are, Why should we consider cultural imperatives in the design of custodial and health facilities?
13
Embed
Dr Shaneen Fantin, James Cook University (paper): Reminding me of home. Culturally responsive design of landscape and external environments in Indigenous secure and health facilities
Dr Shaneen Fantin, Director, People Oriented Design and Adjunct Associate Professor: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University delivered this presentation at the 5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance conference. This conference follows the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia.
For more information, go to http://www.informa.com.au/prisonplanning2013
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance – 9-10th Dec, 2013. Melbourne
Session Title: The Plan Phase: what do we need and where?
Dr Shaneen Fantin, Director, People Oriented Design and Adjunct Associate Professor: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James
Cook University, Cairns, Queensland.
1
3.50 – 4:30pm
Reminding me of home. Culturally responsive design of landscape and
external environments in Indigenous secure and health facilities.
Abstract
In many states of Australia, Aboriginal prisoners make a large portion of the prison
population. In Queensland it is about 30% (ABS 2013), but in prisons in remote areas such
as far north Queensland the percentage is much higher. How can the landscape and outdoor
environments in such facilities be designed to recognise and support Aboriginal cultural and
social practices? Culturally and socially responsive site planning and design can create
opportunities for rehabilitation of prisoners through re-connecting with country, enabling
Aboriginal social practices and maintaining ethno-botanical knowledge. A number of case
studies will be provided.
1.0 Introduction
Australia is a vast country with a relatively small Indigenous population, less than 3% (ABS
2013). However the representation of Aboriginal people in prisons in Australia is
approximately 30% (ABS 2013). The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
(RCIADIC) stated that “[t]here are important cultural differences between Aboriginal and non-
Aboriginal detainees for which accommodation can, and should be made in the context of
custodial procedures and cell design” (Johnston 1991 Vol 3 p.235).
This paper is written from the perspective of architecture and people-environment studies,
and how culturally responsive design of built environments and landscape can create
supportive and potentially rehabilitative environments for users. It draws on literature from
People Environment Studies, Environmental Psychology and Intercultural Design Practice
(Rapoport 1982, Martin and Casault 2005, Bechtel and Churchman 2012). In some parts of
the paper I use the term Aboriginal and in other parts Indigenous. This is intentional as one
case study is from remote Western Australia where the use of the word Indigenous is not
appropriate. Whereas the other case study is from far north Queensland where Indigenous is
accepted as a term and regularly interchanged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
I am an architect with a PhD in Architecture and Aboriginal Environments and have been
working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on health, housing and secure
projects since 1995. I am predominantly a practitioner, but with a keen interest in research
and analysis. Today’s paper presents two case studies. One of a prison and one of a health
facility which incorporate design principles that aim to provide supportive environments for
Aboriginal inmates and patients.
The key questions that are at the forefront of this work are,
Why should we consider cultural imperatives in the design of custodial and health
facilities?
5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance – 9-10th Dec, 2013. Melbourne
Session Title: The Plan Phase: what do we need and where?
Dr Shaneen Fantin, Director, People Oriented Design and Adjunct Associate Professor: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James
Cook University, Cairns, Queensland.
2
How can we respond to social and cultural imperatives of Aboriginal people in the
design of built environments? And,
Is there any evidence to suggest that culturally responsive design contributes to
rehabilitation and wellbeing?
1.1 The relationship between culture and design
Culture is conceptualised by many scholars as existing in both cognitive and physical
dimensions; it encapsulates everything one thinks and feels, and how one behaves or
represents thoughts and feelings in a social and spatial environment. Culture is learning:
every individual learns from his or her environment how to speak, behave and think. All of
the influences and experiences in a person’s life contribute to their self and the cultural
framework from which they view and interact with the world.
Amos Rapoport (1982, 1986), who has undertaken extensive studies on the relationship
between built form and culture, states, “Culture is ultimately translated into form through
what people do as a result of what is in their heads and within the constraints of their
situation” (Rapoport 1986:162). What this suggests is that environmental influences that
affect people’s thought and behaviour patterns can be seen in their spatial and built
environments. Robinson (1989:253) states that built forms are manifestations of culture; they
are “mirrors of cultural values” and allow people to compare cultural aspirations with
achievements.
The relationship of built form and culture can be expressed in a number of ways: as a
symbolic representation of beliefs and practices, in response to spatial activities which are
framed by cultural institutions, or by a combination of both symbolic and spatial structuring
(Rapoport 1986). I have applied the expression Cultural Imperatives to those activities and
symbols that are framed by cultural institutions. For the past fifteen years I have been slowly,
through participatory observation and intercultural practice, observing and recording Cultural
Imperatives for the design of built environments with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. Each project, people and location is different and its own imperatives are derived
from the development of a design brief. However, the connection with the Australian
landscape, or Country, and Aboriginal religion and identity is consistent on every project I
have worked on.
It is important to recognize that built form (and dominant cultural frameworks) also influence
culture; it is a two-way reflective relationship. For example a person’s experience of different
physical environments and cultures can subconsciously and consciously affect how they
interpret their own environment. If an environment inhibits a preferred cultural practice it
might be seen as a vehicle for culture change or adaptation.
People’s creation of and control over their own living environment has consequences for
their well-being and identity (van Staden 1984, Reser 1991 and Prussin 1995). If individuals
feel that they have control over their environment and how it is structured (physically, socially
5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance – 9-10th Dec, 2013. Melbourne
Session Title: The Plan Phase: what do we need and where?
Dr Shaneen Fantin, Director, People Oriented Design and Adjunct Associate Professor: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James
Cook University, Cairns, Queensland.
3
and cognitively), and if the environment supports individuals’ belief systems then it
contributes to the maintenance of individual health and well-being.
1.2 Why should we consider cultural imperatives in the design of custodial and health
environments?
Stress has been described as a ‘response stimulus’ which results from pressures and forces
on people and things (Oxford Dictionary 1973, Memmott 1988:34, 1991, Reser 1991). Reser
(1991: 249) states that people experience stress through:
The pressures and demands of transition;
The experience and impact of discrimination and prejudice;
Marginal social and economic status;
The condition of the physical environment in which people live, and;
Poor health.
People also experience stress through conflict and lack of ‘personal control’ over situations
and environments. Being ‘stressed’ can create anxiety, irritability, and may lead to conflict
and health related problems. Ongoing stress can contribute to mental illnesses such as