Born from Ashes (Mental Health Care Center – Rafah
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Date
2025
Authors
ماب حسن
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Abstract
In the heart of Rafah — a city worn down by war, deprivation, and loss — this project rises to replant seeds of hope in souls exhausted by psychological trauma and repeated shocks. Born from Ashes is not merely a conventional therapeutic building; it is a safe haven and a living, human-centered space that heals within before it heals without, granting patients a chance for a new birth from beneath the ashes of pain and loss.
The design concept stems from a profound understanding of how the surrounding environment contributes to healing the human psyche. Thus, the architectural lines are soft and organic, free from harsh edges or rigid forms, echoing the gentle flow of nature and the deep needs of those who step into this place. Natural elements — light, shade, water, greenery, and soothing sounds — are woven into the treatment process, creating an invisible bridge between the architecture and the soul.
At the heart of the building lies an open courtyard that dissolves boundaries between inside and outside, reconnecting people to nature. It is surrounded by various therapeutic gardens: a sensory garden for meditation and regaining balance; a dedicated space for yoga and relaxation sessions; a children’s play garden designed to restore safety and laughter through therapeutic play; and a rooftop garden where patients can cultivate plants themselves, nurturing the idea of continuity and caring for life once again.
Every detail here tells a story of healing. Even the façades, inspired by intertwining tree branches, express the rebirth of life, protection, shelter, and freedom all at once. These façades do more than block harsh sunlight or provide privacy — they carry a profound symbolic message: that humans, no matter how broken, can grow anew, clinging to life like a branch reaching toward the light.
The design balances privacy with openness; the clear zoning and flow between diagnostic spaces, therapy areas, and temporary accommodation ensure a sense of psychological safety for patients, while the open layout gently connects them to the surrounding nature without making them feel confined or cut off from the world.
Born from Ashes is not just stone and glass — it is a meaningful space created to restore the patient’s sense of belonging to life, whispering: “You are here to heal, to grow anew, and to return stronger and brighter.” It is a project that carries a message far greater than a healthcare facility alone: a message of life, warmth, and hope for a community that has long awaited its chance to be reborn