Architecture as a third skin: Andrea Möhn explores the power of humane design

Text: Loes Vader

When Andrea Möhn talks about her job, her eyes light up. "From the time I was nine years old, I knew I wanted to be an architect. I have been so for 30 years now, more than 27 of which have been independent, with my own agency in Rotterdam", she says. Originally, Andrea is from Germany. She studied at Stuttgart University and came to Delft via an Erasmus scholarship, where she fell in love with the Netherlands and the Dutch. She teaches at the Academy of Architecture in Rotterdam and at TU Delft, as well as lecturing worldwide on humane architecture.

Bringing about change

Andrea remained in the Netherlands. In that choice also lies the seed of her mission: using architecture to make a real difference in people's lives. Andrea: "I feel incredibly at home here and I can develop everything my heart beats for here: as an architect, bringing about change in healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable."

That driving force is personal. Her father lost a leg at a young age. "That was a crucial moment. As a family, we learned to cope with his disability and integrate it completely naturally. I think that's where my sensitivity, to how the physical environment affects people, comes from. How space affects behaviour, emotions, well-being. And what kind of an impact you can have with that."

From experience to mission

After more than 30 years of experience, Andrea recently became a student again: she started a Professional Doctorate (PD), a new PhD track in higher education focused on changes in professional practice. She is carrying out this learning pathway under the guidance of Mark Mobach, professor of Facility Management, and Aly Waninge, professor of Participation and health of people with intellectual and visual impairments. "I don't do theoretical research like a PhD", Andrea explains. "It's about bringing about change in practice. You will learn not only your role as a researcher, but also that of change agent in professional practice, innovator and professional. That's what makes it so special."

Andrea did not hesitate for long when the PD came along. "People had been saying for years: You should write down what you do and how it works. What you have achieved with your projects - behavioural change through architecture - is exactly what you can explore with a PD and capture thematically. I was already giving lectures and workshops, but I also wanted to develop a methodology that would be accessible to architects and caregivers so that more people could work with it." She calls it humane architecture: design from who someone really is and what they really need. Designing from observation.

The story of Dolf

One of the experiences that changed her path forever was the Dolf’s Room project. Andrea: "As an architectural firm, we had already done many projects for people with intellectual disabilities. At one point, Stichting Ipse de Bruggen came to us asking: we don't know how you do it, but your buildings lead to behavioural change. Clients are calmer and employees less likely to be sick. We have a very difficult client, Dolf, who destroys everything and lives in complete isolation. Can you help? It’s about one room."

At first, she hesitated. One room, so small, but it turned out to be the most complex thing she had ever encountered. "Everything in his room was made of steel and fixed to the ground. Dolf was socially and emotionally two years old, but in reality 54." Andrea wanted to understand who he was. “I observed him walking back and forth, wearing rubber boots, from inside to outside.” Then I realised: you are playing farmer. As children do. That was his primal desire."

That insight became the beginning of a total change. She redecorated the room, robust with references to farm life. "When he came back, he jumped up: 'This is beautiful, this is beautiful!' he cried. We have given him a shell in which he can be himself. It gave him grip and security. “Dolf resocialised and it changed his life.” The story gained fame: there was a film, lectures, international conferences. "From that moment, I knew: this is my path."

The essence: perceiving without judgement

According to her, what distinguishes humane architecture is not form or style, but attitude. "In society, we tend to think in terms of solutions. We listen, analyse, and then we think: this is the answer. But really perceiving is something else. That is looking without judgement at who someone is and what that person needs." She calls that sensitivity the key to change.

A methodology that goes a step further

In her PD pathway, Andrea investigates how humane architecture can be systematically applied, including at the care facility Lunet in Eindhoven. There, two rooms will be completely redesigned. It is a complex process, which we are now exploring, that will allow us to define and establish the methodology. In doing so, we want to make the methodology generic so that we can apply it to other target groups such as elderly care, palliative care and education."

Architecture as a means to humanity

Andrea's ambitions extend beyond healthcare. "My dream is that humane architecture contributes to social change. It really is my baby, but also my responsibility. Because I have seen what great things can happen when you give someone space to be themselves."

The PD track offers her the chance to embed that vision and make it generic. Besides the case studies, she is working on publications, a methodology with a toolbox, teaching programmes and possibly a documentary. "We are building a knowledge network, nationally and internationally, with professors, mentors, practitioners. And I get to learn from greats like Kirk Hamilton from the US, a pioneer in health architecture."