Vancouver Integrated Recovery and Healing Hub

The Vancouver Integrated Recovery and Healing Hub is a reaction to the opioid crisis happening within the Downtown Eastside area of Vancouver. The project aims to transform the space associated with the notion of recovering from addiction by shifting away from clinical settings and creating community-driven spaces that bring back dignity, connectivity, and hope. The design of the structure is based on the idea of “Gradient of Recovery.” It is a four-story structure that starts off as a place of personal medical attention on its topmost level and turns into a socially-oriented environment as it descends to its bottom floors.

To create this project, I used Tinkercad for the initial modelling and then proceeded to make a prototype, scaled-down model with 3D printing

The basis of the Vancouver Integrated Recovery and Healing Hub was developed in response to the opioid crisis happening within the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Standard recovery centers tend to have a very clinical atmosphere and may isolate individuals looking to seek treatment. To properly recover from disasters, rebuilding goes beyond just repairing physical damage. This project is based on the concept of redesigning recovery into a public area where individuals will regain their dignity and sense of purpose.

The key architectural component of this design is the concept of the “Gradient of Recovery,” a layout based on the experience of an individual’s journey towards recovery.

Levels 3 and 4 (The Core): Areas dedicated to detoxification and treatment, characterized by calming lighting and natural materials to create a more relaxed state of mind.

Level 2 (The Transition): Rooms for counselling sessions and group meetings where people gradually start to reconnect socially.

Level 1 (The Social Hub): The bottommost level of the structure serves as the social area and includes such places as a makerspace and the Common Table café. People slowly reintegrate into society through these areas.

In order to facilitate recovery, the hub adopts biophilic design principles, which aim to improve mental well-being. In this case, architecture becomes the main element for stress relief and stabilization.

Natural lighting is preferred throughout the entire building, particularly in terms of large windows.

The design features indoor gardens, green roofs, and healing gardens that offer a place to relax.

The curved wood exterior conveys feelings of rejuvenation by deviating from sharp, clinical edges.

The hub will be created as a resilient building that will continue its functions no matter what happens outside of the building’s systems.

Energy Independence: The building utilizes solar energy from rooftops and battery storage to keep functioning in case of any power failure.

Water Management: The building utilizes rainwater collection technology that reduces the ecological footprint while providing water for the garden.

The Design and Make process was used throughout the entire duration of the project through the utilization of tools made available by Autodesk to go from an idea to a constructible design.

Tinkercad: For developing massing of the site and understanding the 'Kit of Parts' approach through recovery.

Here is the link to the Tinkercad model: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/gsvdH0XJM7I-make-it-healkevin/edit?returnTo=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tinkercad.com%2Fdashboard

Fusion and Revit: For building out the architecture of the design, doing the necessary structure studies and making visuals that sell.

Scalability: Analysis of how the project could be modular and scalable based on need.