Little Eden Society for the Care of Persons with Mental Handicap : a new home in Prinshof, Pretoria

Abstract

This discourse deals with the establishment of a third facility for the Little Eden Society for the Care of Persons with Mental Handicap in Prinshof, Pretoria. The Little Eden Society cares for persons with profound intellectual disability who require intense care and stimulation. A description of intellectual disability and mental illness, as well as the history of the treatment and social attitudes towards people afflicted by them, has been undertaken. This is reviewed together with the evolution of the architecture of various facilities for the care and treatment of intellectually disabled and mentally ill people. A number of precedent studies were undertaken of contemporary architecture, relevant to various aspects of the new facility. Finally, the client’s existing facilities and needs were examined and understood in the context of the new facility. With these studies as grounding, the design of the new facility could be undertaken. The resulting design seeks to embody the Little Eden Society’s ethos of complete care, addressing the needs of the mind, body and soul; seeking to stimulate and develop each person to their own individual potential.