Holistic Health Center

This adaptive re-use converts a 1915 church into a holistic therapy center. 

The intervention is subtle, in deference to the existing architecture, and is based upon the holistic principle of uniting the intellectual, aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural. The design strives to balance community and individualism: Individual counseling rooms are located around the perimeter of the central sanctuary space of the church. Light and views are brought to each individual therapy unit, while critical visual and acoustic privacy is maintained. 

The rooms are organized around a new interior garden which, in the evenings, becomes a place for community gatherings and art exhibits. Larger group therapy rooms can combine to allow for larger gatherings and lectures. 

The project is affiliated with JFK University and is located on Oakland’s Lake Merritt.