Beyond Treatment: Healing Spaces for Breast Cancer Human-Centered Design for Emotional and Physical Wellbeing

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in the United States. Although medical treatments continue to advance, the architectural environment where patients receive care has not evolved in the same way. Many spaces still fail to respond to the anxiety, emotional vulnerability, and psychological stress that define the cancer journey. My thesis proposes transforming a vacant parking lot in Anacostia into a healing center for women and men in treatment, creating a restorative connection among the city, care, and emotional well-being. Nowadays, most oncology environments remain cold, overstimulating, and emotionally unresponsive. These spaces are not designed to manage the anxiety, depression, and fear that accompany a cancer diagnosis, often surrounding patients with artificial lighting, impersonal waiting rooms, and a lack of privacy, affecting the patient experience. For instance, this becomes particularly challenging for women who are mothers of young children, as navigating treatment in these environments creates stress not only for the patients but also for caregivers and kids who often have no safe or supportive place to be while their mothers receive treatment. In Anacostia, these challenges are even more pronounced: the neighborhood records some of the highest breast cancer incidence and late-stage diagnoses in Washington, D.C, shaped by food insecurity, limited access to healthy nutrition, environmental pollution, and high unemployment. These conditions diminish overall health resilience, increase vulnerability to disease, and delay timely care, intensifying the need for environments that genuinely support patients, caregivers, and families. The goal of this thesis is to transform an overlooked parking lot in Anacostia into a healing center that supports the emotional, psychological, and physical needs of individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment. The project seeks to create an environment where nature, privacy, and community work together to reduce stress and restore dignity. By reframing care as both a medical and emotional journey, the proposal aims to offer a model for more compassionate oncology environments. The conceptual foundation of this project is shaped by three experiential sensations: refuge, warmth, and reflection. The sensation of refuge shapes spaces that feel intimate and protective, especially for patients who have received a difficult diagnosis. For instance, this sensation is expressed through natural materials, soft color, and gentle transitions that help the environment feel safe rather than overwhelming. Warmth is expressed through textures, light, and a color palette influenced by natural tones, creating spaces that feel welcoming and human. Instead of the cold, impersonal atmosphere typical of clinical settings, the building aims to offer comfort and a sense of being held by the space. Reflection becomes an essential element due to the site's elevated terrace. Short and long walking paths are places throughout the project, each leading to small, quiet plazas where different kinds of swings are located. These moments are meant for patients, caregivers, and family members to slow down, pause, and process what they are going through. The swings create a gentle place for introspection, neither isolated nor exposed, just enough to allow a person to breathe and reconnect with themselves. These three sensations organize the four central zones of the project: wellness and Therapy, Kids Zone, administrative, supportive services, and medical care. Ensuring that each area supports not only its function but also the emotional experience of healing. The project is organized into four main zones: Administrative and Support Zone, Medical Zone, Wellness and Therapy Zone, and Kids Zone. These areas are connected through a sequence that gradually separates users from the stress of daily life. The building is elevated above the parking structure, and users begin in the ground-floor lobby for pre-registration and identity verification before taking the elevator to the upper level. This vertical transition is intentional, creating a moment of disconnection from the urban environment below. At the arrival level, users walk along a tree-lined walkway, enjoying fresh air and natural light. Small resting areas appear along the path, offering gentle pauses before entering the wellness and therapy zone, which includes an indoor park, counseling room, and preventive-care spaces. Connected to this area is the medical zone, which consists of a pre-check room, consultation room, nutritional support, and chemotherapy suites. Nearby, the kids' zone offers indoor and outdoor play areas where children can stay close to their caregivers. Finally, the terrace extends the project outdoors, with short and long walking paths that lead to small, quiet plazas with swings among the trees. These spaces offer simple, grounding moments for patients, caregivers, and family members to rest, reflect, and process their experience. Lastly, this project reframes care as both a medical and emotional journey, offering a place where healing can unfold with dignity, softness, and connection.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Architecture

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Architecture

Department dc:contributor.department

Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Ramirez, Maria Lucia

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Linn, Andrew Pincus

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Emmons, Paul F.
• Green, Tuwanda Lee

• Well-being

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:45637

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/141063