Publication: From Shadows to Light: Atriums as Transformative Spaces Connecting Inside to Outside
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Type
Thesis
Degree
MA
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Published Version
Abstract
A growing body of research agrees that exposure to nature significantly aids recovery, reduces stress, and enhances overall well-being. Within this context, atriums emerge as pivotal architectural elements that can embed natural qualities into built environments, serving as more than circulation zones to become restorative spaces. This thesis examines the capacity of atriums to act as transformative spatial mediators that connect interior and exterior realms, fostering conditions that nurture psychological balance, social interaction, and a sense of belonging.
Through a systematic analysis of case studies, this research identifies five design principles that inform the creation of healing atrium environments. Glazed walls provide visual continuity with the outdoors, natural materials enrich sensory experience, vegetation introduces patterns of renewal, water and reflective elements add multisensory depth, and circulation strategies establish rhythms of movement that support exploration and pause. Synthesized from diverse precedents, these principles form transferable strategies for therapeutic design. Their application in the rehabilitation center project demonstrates how theoretical insights can be translated into practice to create environments that actively support recovery.
The findings emphasize that atriums, when designed with intention, extend beyond aesthetics to embody an architectural ethos of care. As spatial anchors, they integrate natural light, air, and openness, shaping built environments that restore, inspire, and reconnect individuals with nature and themselves.