An Ethnographic Approach to Trauma-Informed Design
- Gabriele Carmelo Rosato
- Nov 7, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 16, 2024
On 7 November I took part in the ‘Ambienti Flessibili’ (Flexible Environments) conference at the Department of Architecture, Roma Tre University, an interdisciplinary study day dedicated to exploring the concept of flexibility applied to architectural design. The event aims to investigate the concept of flexibility as an integrative principle, capable of bridging the real and the virtual, theory and practice, outdoor and indoor spaces, and collective and individual boundaries.
I was given the opportunity to present my paper entitled “Empathic Architecture for Safe Spaces: An Ethnographic Approach to Trauma-Informed Design”: below is the video of my speech.
An ethnographic approach to designing safe spaces
My paper focuses on the importance of designing spaces that address the specific needs of survivors of childhood abuse. Architecture, in fact, has a profound impact on our perception of safety and psychological well-being, especially for those who bear experiences of trauma.
My research is based on an ethnographic approach that integrates qualitative interviews and visual ethnography to better understand how survivors perceive and experience their living spaces. In this way, architecture can become an enabler in the creation of spaces that support the process of coping with trauma.
Trauma and spatiality
Trauma is a biographical, social and ecological fact. Therefore, we need to foster a non-pathologising attitude, focusing on how the individual survived and what it takes (also environmentally) to live with the trauma and cohabit with other residents.
In general, the trauma-informed approach is based on the idea that all people can experience trauma in the course of their lives. Trauma-informed architecture is a field that relates closely to the principles of inclusive design, but with a specific focus on the consequences of psychological trauma. My research suggests the application of some key principles for the design of residential buildings that are safe and welcoming for those who have experienced trauma.
Thus, a ‘trauma-informed’ environment is one that recognises the influence of environmental and cultural factors on the health and well-being of its inhabitants.
Towards empathic architecture
In a world where architecture is often focused on functionality and beauty, I hope my contribution can help bring attention to the importance of empathic architecture. Buildings can not only be beautiful and functional, but also sensitive and responsive to the emotional needs of their inhabitants, especially those facing the likelihood of traumatic reactivations.
For me, this is an important step towards an architecture that is truly at the service of human beings, capable of accommodating the complexity of human experiences and promoting psychological well-being through conscious design choices.
I hope to provide experts in the built environment with tools and perspectives to design truly inclusive spaces, capable of welcoming and supporting those in search of a safe place, starting with their own home.
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