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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A plan for Metropolitan State Hospital : imagery as a therapy for an institution

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis is both text and illustration to describe the process of transforming a state mental institution from an outdated, outmoded, conventional hospital into a living community. The goal of the project is to develop an institution not restricted by rigid forms or designs - a flexible, responsive environment of the type required by rehabilitation therapies and medical practices that are constantly evolving. Emphasis is placed on environmental factors that impact the personal daily life on campus, including facilities for work, communication, learning, recreation, and enjoyment of the wider landscape environment The project is to transform Metropolitan State Hospital in Belmont, a Boston suburb, into a therapeutic transitional and educational community. This work is a diary from a journey of discovery through moral, political, and economic territory. It is a guidebook to help in the process of architectural form making. The images are suggestions and questions.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
1988

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • McMurrin, Sterling James
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Maurice Keith Smith.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79163
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/79163

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

McMurrin, Sterling James. A plan for Metropolitan State Hospital : imagery as a therapy for an institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79163