Alcohol Research GroupPost-Graduate Seminar Presentation

The Architecture of Recovery: A Case Study in

Architecture for Sober Living Houses (SLH)

Prepared forSLH Community Impact Study

Doug Polcin, Ed.D., Principal Investigator

February 21, 2012

Friedner D. Wittman, Ph.D., M.Arch.Babette Jee, Architect

CLEW AssociatesBerkeley, CA

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Sober Living ArchitectureSober Living Houses (SLH)

SLH Mission: Support residents’ personal recovery•Sober living day-to-day with peers•Positive participation in community•Observe house rules, participate in AA

“The Setting is the Service” (Ken Schonlau, CLARE)•A well-designed and well-managed SLH promotes recovery•A poorly-designed and poorly-managed SLH impedes recovery•Design and management are interdependent

Environmental design components of an SLH•Location (neighborhood & surrounding community) •Facilities (buildings, or socio-physical settings)

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Sober Living ArchitectureSLH Environmental Design Components

Location•Residential character (homelike feel)•Appearance in relation to other houses in neighborhood•Safe and quiet area•Proximity to jobs and services

Facility•Spatial organization (size and configuration)•Furnishings and decor•Upkeep and maintenance•Expectations for use of space

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Sober Living ArchitectureEnvironmental Patterns

Environmental Patterns use architecture to realize CSTL vision for its SLH mission

•Patterns link purpose to function thru “if-then” statements at several levels

•CSTL director creates (discovers, invents) environmental patterns for CSTL needs

•Sides below summarize key patterns for Phase I and Phase II facilities

(C. Alexander, S. Ishikawa, M. Silverstein, Timeless Way of Being, Oxford Univ Press, 1977)

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Sober Living ArchitectureEnvironmental Patterns

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Sober Living ArchitectureCSTL Case Study

Clean and Sober Transition Living, Fair Oaks, California, acquires SLH facilities in quiet single-family neighborhoods to create a place where residents practice sober living skills and make community contacts.

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Sober Living ArchitectureCSTL – Overview

Origin and development•Founded by current director early in his own recovery •Has grown from single house to peer-operated community complex•Growth seeks to build both the person and community connections

CSTL Facility complex•Phase I – Adult Recovery Maintenance Facility (67 beds in five buildings)•Phase II – 10 Satellite Houses (SLHs)

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Sober Living Architecture Phase I - Neighborhood

• Sober living residences protected by Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 • FHA Act opens path to safe, high-quality residential neighborhoods• Located with access to transportation, jobs and services

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Sober Living Architecture Phase I – Facilities

• First sober living residence did not thrive in isolation• Buffered siting along Madison provides key development opportunity • Madison Avenue brings together Phase I residents, Phase II, visitors • House of Beginnings = home base & social heart for CSTL participants

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Sober Living Architecture House of Beginnings – Home Base &

Social HeartArchitecture facilitates the recovery experience

EVIRONMENTAL PATTERNS

• Daily meetings in large room• Instant & constant socializing

(“15 minutes”)• Blended kitchen & dining• No corridors to hamper flow • Bedrooms next to social area• Flow from neighboring houses • Easy indoor-outdoor (rear yard)• Corner office is a mini-hub• Weekly Community Meetings

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Sober Living Architecture Phase I residence – Sleeping

ArrangementsArchitecture facilitates respect for the person

EVIRONMENTAL PATTERNS• Bedrooms are for sleeping only

(monthly agreement, no lease)• Two-bed rooms for everyone

(college dorm style)• No bunk beds (underscore

dignity & respect possessions)• Security for women• Increase in status and progress

in Phase I is associated with use of time, not one’s room

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Sober Living ArchitectureCSTL – Phase II Overview

Neighborhoods•10 houses in separate neighborhoods•Neighborhoods near Phase I(“Octopus”)•Safe and quiet streets•Easy access to shopping , activities & jobs

SLH “Satellite” Facilities•Single-family homes •Conventional design •Indefinite-term lease •Independent living in shared setting (college apartment)

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Sober Living Architecture Phase II SLH residences –

NeighborhoodNeighborly Architecture

E NVIRONMENTAL PATTERNS• Similar to others on street• Quiet, unobtrusive neighbor

(control noise, trash)• Safe & transparent

(no fences or barriers)• Contributes to neighborhood

(attractive appearance)• Cars & equipment out of site

(deep back yards, car parking)• Accessible to neighbors

(Friendly greetings, OK to knock)• Respond at once to concerns

(“have you been harmed?)

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Sober Living Architecture Phase II residences – Facilities

Architecture for Responsible LivingENVIRONMENTAL PATTERNS• Single bed room for each

resident (college apartment)• Shared social & dining area• House manager = chief peer• Accountable conduct• Accountable care of house • Linkage to CSTL community• Monthly rent (self- financing) • Flexible time in residence • Everyday surveillance • Respond at once to problems

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