The Role of Collective Memory in Strengthening the Concept Therapeutic Landscape | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

Niška Spa, one of the oldest cultural landmarks near Niš, has great potential as a therapeutic retreat, renowned for its healing waters, lush greenery, and fresh air. Alongside its natural benefits, the spa also holds a rich cultural heritage. This study examines the spa through the lens of collective memory, which weaves together its history, social dynamics, and activities.

To uncover key insights, the research relied on archival photographs, historical documents, and interviews with local residents. Archival photographs, in particular, served as a crucial visual record of past events, cultural traditions, and everyday life. Around 3,000 photographs from the Niš City Archive were analyzed, with the frequency of certain elements helping to identify significant aspects of collective memory. These elements were further examined in terms of form, pattern, texture, and material, ensuring their reinterpretation in a modern design context.

Interviews with residents also shed light on the most frequently visited public spaces and landscapes, influencing the selection of the project’s location. By blending historical significance with contemporary design, the project aims to restore and celebrate the enduring essence of Niška Spa. The established principles serve as a foundation for exploring how collective memory contributes to strengthening the therapeutic landscape.

Design Process

The goal was to utilize principles derived from collective memory as a design tool to enhance the therapeutic qualities of the landscape. The concept of a therapeutic landscape is considered in both its tangible and intangible aspects. For an architectural space to have a therapeutic impact, it should evoke sensory experiences similar to those found in nature, achieved through contrasts and the dynamic interplay of light and shadow.

Moreover, the selection of textures should complement the spatial character of the built environment, while materials and colors must blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. If a particular space or object has historically provided therapeutic benefits through the activities it fosters, those activities should be preserved and thoughtfully reintroduced.

By integrating these principles, the project seeks to create a cohesive, restorative environment that not only honors collective memory but also fosters healing and well-being.

Final Outcome

By analyzing users—their preferences, movement patterns, and viewing angles—the scope and spatial framework of the intervention were defined. The intervention consists of a primary and secondary system. The primary system includes seven pavilions strategically placed near significant elements of collective memory, while the secondary system emerges from the intersections of user movement paths, forming a series of micro-interventions.

Each pavilion in the primary system is designed to evoke a distinct emotional and cognitive response—such as intuition, serenity, support, protection, change, reflection, and nostalgia—while simultaneously fostering a therapeutic effect. The materials are carefully selected to blend seamlessly with the environment, making the pavilions appear as though they naturally emerge from the landscape. 

Emphasis is placed on the sensory experience, incorporating elements like textures, light and shadow, greenery, and water to enhance the user’s interaction with the space. The design of each pavilion is site-specific, shaped by an in-depth environmental analysis. These structures aim to inspire curiosity, wonder, and admiration, mirroring the emotional response typically triggered by objects of collective memory.

The secondary interventions are minimalistic in form but leverage technology to introduce users to metaphysical spaces. Examples include music benches that create an immersive auditory experience or QR code activations that reveal historical imagery or alternative realities, offering a deeper connection between past and present.

Conclusion: This project reinterprets collective memory to enhance Niška Spa’s therapeutic landscape, blending history, nature, and modern design. Through sensory-driven pavilions and interactive interventions, it preserves cultural heritage while promoting well-being and connection.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]