Elements of Home

Women who stay in shelters have left their homes due to violence and are in urgent need of safety and protection. For many, the shelter is a life-saving refuge, but it also marks the beginning of a difficult recovery process. Many women experience symptoms of trauma, making it challenging to rebuild everyday life. While domestic violence affects people of all genders, this project focuses on women and children, who continue to represent the largest group seeking support.

Trauma-informed design creates spaces that promote safety, trust, and wellbeing. It recognizes that the built environment affects how people feel, heal, and connect, and uses design to support emotional comfort, agency, and recovery. Through analysing home-making rituals, domestic objects, and the physical and emotional impacts of domestic violence, the project explores how design can support a renewed sense of belonging, identity, and home.

Everyone deserves to feel at home without compromising their safety. Distinct colors and details create recognition without revealing identity.

The chamber lamp is a companion that can rest on a table, hang by a bedside, or be carried through dark corridors, offering comfort and orientation. Its paper shade becomes a canvas for personal expression, allowing each user to leave their own marks, memories, and stories upon it.

Nine spatial elements shape an environment that extends beyond safety to foster belonging. By addressing thresholds, routines, rest, storage, and community, each element interprets Trauma-Informed Design through a distinct spatial response. Together, they create a holistic framework that nurtures healing, autonomy, and dignity in everyday life.