Psychiatric hospital--from asylums to centres for mind-body wellness.

Throughout history mental illness was mystified, feared and condemned, but over time perception and treatment of psychiatric patients changed. Systematic care for the mentally ill in specialised institutions began about six hundred years ago. However, it was of a repressive and restrictive character towards the patients until as late as 19th century, a time of significant progress and development for the science of psychiatry. It was then that the effect of one's immediate environment on human emotions, mood, and recovery became the subject of many scientific studies, and the role of architectural design in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients gained much attention. Over the years significant evidence has been accumulated of the effect of architectural design on humans. However, psychiatric hospitals very often occupy buildings not originally designed for that specific purpose. This is the case with the Rab Psychiatric Hospital, demonstrating a functional and efficient use of its premises, which have yet to be recognised as a historical, cultural and architectural landmark.