YEAR 4 SEMESTER 1

BLOOM POST-NATAL RETREAT & FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER

Bloom is a post-natal facility and family education center located in Knoxville, Tennessee. This space provides a holistic experience for guests who are staying in the retreat, as well as providing an educational environment for visitors who come for the education center. The concept of integrating the Korean practice of Sanhujori into the center responds to global contexts and cultural practices. Sanhujori is best described as a post-natal practice (the Korean centers being called Sanhujoriwons, translated to post-natal center in English) that emphasizes nurturing the body not only for the mother but for the baby, eating restorative foods, not spending much time outdoors, and keeping the body warm. Integrated into my design, this includes a kitchen within the program that will serve this menu of restoring foods, a yoga studio, mental health services, a nursery, a classroom environment to help prepare new mothers, and a 4:1 patient-to-nurse ratio.

I showed this video to provide that context in my verbal presentation: https://youtu.be/86HjYbT6DAg?si=bQvOzYVM98QhetFW

An example of an emerging societal problem is the limitation on access to healthcare and issues related to women's rights in America. This has been explored by hosting the education center within the facility to better prepare parents for having a baby, as well as providing a safe and nurturing space surrounding such a personal issue. Exploring that this project is set in 2040, I am imagining that the practice of Sanhujori has extended further into the United States and that this practice is not only normalized but celebrated. It helps mothers not only learn how to care for their children but truly bond and connect with them before being expected to do that on their own.

Within the selection of the site and choosing the location that I picked out, this site is nested in Sequoyah Hills, which is a really nice community here in Knoxville. It is off Kingston Pike, and I’ve done extensive research on the demographics of this area. The site itself is located next to a lot of apartment and condominium complexes which indicates a growth point as well as a possible space for younger families. It is also located very close to three local hospitals.

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