Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
Department
Landscape Architecture
First Advisor
Fatema Maswood
Second Advisor
Andrea Johnson
Abstract
While landscapes designed have been shown to effectively promote healing, foster community, and facilitate social empowerment, the landscapes of domestic violence shelters are woefully understudied.
This thesis explores the potential of integrating and combining existing design elements into the landscape to create a system that fosters a “safe place” within an urban context.
In this thesis, I developed a series of typologies based on existing landscape elements that are not necessarily connected with trauma-informed care or a healing landscape. I examined these in an urban context, specifically at Casa Myrna, a domestic violence shelter in Roxbury, Boston, MA.
Through the thesis, I tailored the typologies to suit the sites’ exceptional conditions and specific needs. This thesis aims to spark a broader discussion about the current practice model and approaches to landscape architecture in DV shelters.
Recommended Citation
Chen, Zheyun, "Re-imagining As Re-empowering" (2025). Masters Theses. 1435.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1435
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