Design of Mental Rehabilitation Cottages in Serang with Baduy Cultural-Living Approach

Abstract

Banten is one of the provinces in Indonesia with a significant prevalence of mental health disorders and no dedicated psychiatric hospital. Approximately 7.1% of its 11.83 million residents experience emotional or severe mental illnesses, yet plans for a psychiatric facility have been repeatedly delayed. In response to this urgent gap, this architectural design project proposes a mental rehabilitation cottage in Serang that serves as a culturally sensitive and sustainable alternative for individuals with mild to moderate mental health challenges, specifically anxiety disorders, depression, and clinically stable schizophrenia. Drawing inspiration from the Baduy people's harmonious, nature-integrated lifestyle, the design integrates their cultural values, spatial traditions, and sustainable material usage to create a non-clinical, home-like healing environment. The facility is organized into four key zones, Residential, Creative, Therapy, and Mindful, supporting personalized recovery through structured therapy sessions, creative crafts, and mindful activities such as gardening and yoga. Situated in Anyer, the cottage emphasizes therapeutic spatial planning, privacy, safety, and environmental integration. Beyond its functional role, the project advocates for a more compassionate and culturally grounded approach to mental health care in Indonesia, aiming to inspire future development of psychiatric facilities in the region.