Re-imagining Recovery: The Role of Architecture in Sobriety

Alcoholism recovery housing often overlooks the profound impact that architecture has on the rehabilitation process. Many sober living houses fail to consider how design elements influence healing, leaving a gap between the physical and mental spaces necessary for recovery. This thesis explores the design of a sober living house in Atlanta that integrates biophilic principles, choice architecture, and WELL Building Standards to create a healing environment that fosters community integration, resilience, and well-being. Situated in an urban context, the project addresses social and environmental challenges by providing therapeutic spaces that support recovery while acknowledging the financial and emotional realities of residents. A core component of this project is the use of water as a multisensory experience, engaging the five senses to evoke calmness, mindfulness, and renewal. Water features—such as reflective pools, soundscapes, and tactile interactions—serve as symbols of transformation, reinforcing self-reflection and personal growth. Biophilic strategies, including natural light, organic materials, indoor greenery, and access to outdoor spaces, help residents reconnect with nature and themselves. The AA 12-step program informs the spatial organization, ensuring the environment actively aids in habit formation, self-reflection, and social support. Guided by WELL Building Standards, the design prioritizes air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and spatial layout to optimize health. Choice architecture is applied to influence positive behaviors by strategically organizing spaces, activities, and resources that promote healthy decision-making beyond the rehabilitation period. Through historical and case study research on rehabilitation spaces, biophilia, and WELL Building Standards, this thesis establishes a framework for designing recovery-oriented spaces. By merging architecture, nature, and psychology, this project demonstrates how sober living spaces can become catalysts for healing, empowerment, and long-term sobriety in an urban setting.