Investigating holistic health and wellness and its relationship to architecture: a proposed integrated training facility for the SAPS in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

Abstract

Safety is a crucial aspect of any city’s perception. Peoples interaction with the city is directly dependant on their level of security within that environment. South Africa relies on the South African Police Service for safety. Prior to 1994 elections, the South African Police were answerable only to those in power, beginning the culture of police brutality as well as not holding the force accountable for their actions. The SAPS have since aimed to serve and protect the community. This transition saw increased numbers of police officers appointed with less regard for the standard. The resultant is older and newer members having completely different training, now expected to work in the line of duty seamlessly. Police service lifestyle is physically and emotionally challenging. The job often leads to exposure to many troubling and violent situations. Many Police officers experience stress, anxiety and depression which can result in them resorting to a plethora of unhealthy coping mechanisms which can result in violent outbursts or even suicide (Wassermann, 2016). The negative police image creates doubt on the Police Force’s ability to keep people safe. People then lose faith in their Police force which leads to public feeling unsafe as well as increasing criminal disregard for the law. The training facilities and the police stations are often simple face brick building with fortified characteristic relying on mechanical lighting and ventilation at the detriment of the officer’s wellbeing. They appear cold, clinical buildings that don’t facilitate a positive mental outlook. The facilities are symbolically representative of the old Police force. The mind body and spirit act as one. Keeping the physical body comfortable in its environment allows the mind and spirit to be comfortable too. For SAPS to function well as a cohesive unit, they need to live well individually and to fill the gaps in their training. It is necessary to rehabilitate officers who are already in the line of duty. The re-training facility should be aimed at holistically strengthening individual members to promote better work performance. Building a professional and capable SAPS is the basis of achieving goals set out for their improvement. The aim is to use a multidisciplinary approach to investigate holistic wellness and its relationship to architecture in order to create an integrated training facility for the South African Police Service. A literature review, case studies, precedents, interviews and questionnaires cover the bases of various aspect of the research by studying relevant people or spaces respectively, achieving a holistic consensus regarding the various approaches toward training, mental and physical wellness. Emphasis will be placed on creating a multisensory architectural approach to mental and physical wellbeing in order to combat the negative effects of their work environments such as phenomenologically inadequate police stations. The facility will combine a medical and non- medical approach to improve mental and physical wellness thus training and retraining police officers to strengthen the force.