Poetic Writing as an Enactive Method for Studying Psychiatric Hospital Atmospheres: Addressing Affective, Ephemeral and Peripheral Dimensions

This chapter proposes a reflection on the act of poetic writing as a method in architectural research, particularly in uncovering implicit forms of spatial knowledge gained from residing in space. It presents three cases, each exploring the atmospheric quality of a psychiatric hospital environment through lived experiences. In these cases, varying contexts and durations reveal different ways in which poetic writing can contribute to our understanding of atmospheric perception, while also addressing relational and situated facets of the pluralistic psychiatric hospital environments. Reflecting on these three vases, we delve into how the incorporation of poetic writing could elevate the research methodologies of architectural research and designers. By embracing the poetic gaze, researchers can access the affective, ephemeral, and peripheral dimensions of atmosphere, thereby gaining valuable insights into the multifaceted complexities of these environments. The chapter argues that poetic writing can offer a rich and nuanced, enactive approach to addressing the here outlined dimensions and consequently offering valuable insights into pluralistic complexities psychiatric hospitals. Hereby it contributes to a deeper understanding of how individuals engage with and are shaped by their surroundings in psychiatric care settings.