| dc.description.abstract | The design proposal is weaved around one of the major problems in India, road traffic accidents. The consequences due to road traffic accidents may range from minor to major neurological disorders or even fatality. Unregulated traffic rules, reckless driving, and drunken driving are amongst the most important factors contributing to accidents that occur in village roads and national highways. Additionally, there are no proper rehabilitation facilities for the victims of the road traffic accidents apart from the small private outpatient clinics that serve them. These clinics do not contribute effectively, since the process of healing takes months together. Hence, there is an increasing need to prevent, treat, and educate the public regarding this growing issue. The construct of this paper takes us through the journey of the proposed design for the Stroke and Neurological Center, starting from the background study required to understand the problem and create necessary design characteristics, followed by stating the express need for such design in the context, detailing the goals to be achieved by the design, and also, laying out the specific challenges faced during the design process. The background study is also well supported with the help of capable and detailed case study analysis undertaken. Combining all the provided information, this paper tries to provide the big picture involved behind the design, and delving deep into the planning, structure, and philosophies that eventually led to the construction of the design. As an architect, designing the spaces keeping in mind the end user and enhancing their experience in the space is very important. In expressing this, the architect can choose a path for themselves, which could be creative or traditional, iconic or subtle, abstract or direct and with material variations. The architectural thought behind this design was to make it symbolic to the outside environment and on the inside of the building, it is designed to be interactive, experiential, conversing between the inside and the outside through intermediate semi-open and open spaces, helping in healing of the patients through the therapies provided outdoors. Road traffic accidents are one of the main causes of fatalities in India. The number of casualties caused by road accidents are more than the casualties caused by some epidemics in the country. Studies show that around 150,000 deaths occurred due to road traffic accidents in the year 2015. And according to the same studies, the sheer number of people who are left injured, or, in some more damaging cases, seriously incapacitated, are more when compared to the number of deaths caused by road accidents. Further, many studies (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 2015; Transport Department, Government of Karnataka, 2015; Sastry, 2012) show that the major consequence for people involved in a road accident is identified as neurological disorders. Neurological disorders are considered as a broad spectrum and the consequences of road accidents may result in the following neurological disorders such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord and brain injuries, whiplash, leg and knee injuries, paralysis, sprains and strains, stress injuries, nerve injuries, and so on, which affects an individual both mentally and physically. Depending upon the information available from statistics, it is evident that there is an increasing need to create awareness among the public about the safety measures while riding and driving, and for the treatment of patients diagnosed with severe neurological disorders after any injury. Hence, I have decided to design a facility which provides rehabilitation services to the aforementioned victims of the road traffic accidents and also create awareness among the public about road traffic accidents, through various programs. The scope of the project has been narrowed down to provide physiotherapeutic treatment to the patients diagnosed with neurological conditions that were acquired from road traffic accidents. The center helps the victims to walk, balance, and support their body weight, teaches self-care skills, and thereby helps in providing a stress-free, self-sustaining lifestyle to its patients, and consequently, uplifting the overall well-being of an individual. At the same time, the center also acts as a platform which strives to create awareness about the road traffic accidents and safety measures that need to be taken against road traffic accidents. | en |
