This study investigates how the emotional, social, psychological, and cultural needs of women can inform the architectural design of healing retreat environments. Women often experience distinct pressures related to safety, emotional labour, social responsibilities, cultural expectations, and personal well-being, which can influence how they perceive and use spaces. Despite the growing interest in wellness architecture, many healing environments continue to follow gender-neutral approaches and may not adequately respond to women’s specific needs for privacy, autonomy, emotional comfort, safety, and supportive social interaction. The research adopts a qualitative methodology comprising a literature review, semi-structured interviews, an online questionnaire survey, and analysis of five women-centric therapeutic retreat case studies. Primary data were collected from 51 female respondents aged 20–55 years from diverse socio-cultural and occupational backgrounds. The collected data were examined through thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in women’s spatial preferences, daily challenges, perceptions of safety, and expectations from healing environments. The findings indicate that women strongly prioritize safety, privacy, autonomy, emotional comfort, and a meaningful connection with nature. Quiet spaces for reflection, supportive social zones, opportunities for creative self-expression, and culturally sensitive design elements were identified as important contributors to psychological and emotional well-being. The study also highlights the need for a balanced spatial relationship between solitude and community interaction, allowing users to choose between personal retreat and social engagement according to their emotional needs. Based on these findings, the study proposes gender-responsive design strategies including biophilic design, safe and legible circulation systems, private-to-public spatial zoning, transitional spaces, sensory comfort, and culturally respectful planning. These strategies provide an architectural framework for creating healing retreat environments that support emotional balance, empowerment, autonomy, and holistic well-being for women.

Key Words: Women-centric design, Wellness architecture, Healing retreats, Gender-responsive spaces, Holistic well-being

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

This study investigates how the emotional, social, psychological, and cultural needs of women can inform the architectural design of healing retreat environments. Women often experience distinct pressures related to safety, emotional labour, social responsibilities, cultural expectations, and personal well-being, which can influence how they perceive and use spaces. Despite the growing interest in wellness architecture, many healing environments continue to follow gender-neutral approaches and may not adequately respond to women’s specific needs for privacy, autonomy, emotional comfort, safety, and supportive social interaction. The research adopts a qualitative methodology comprising a literature review, semi-structured interviews, an online questionnaire survey, and analysis of five women-centric therapeutic retreat case studies. Primary data were collected from 51 female respondents aged 20–55 years from diverse socio-cultural and occupational backgrounds. The collected data were examined through thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in women’s spatial preferences, daily challenges, perceptions of safety, and expectations from healing environments. The findings indicate that women strongly prioritize safety, privacy, autonomy, emotional comfort, and a meaningful connection with nature. Quiet spaces for reflection, supportive social zones, opportunities for creative self-expression, and culturally sensitive design elements were identified as important contributors to psychological and emotional well-being. The study also highlights the need for a balanced spatial relationship between solitude and community interaction, allowing users to choose between personal retreat and social engagement according to their emotional needs. Based on these findings, the study proposes gender-responsive design strategies including biophilic design, safe and legible circulation systems, private-to-public spatial zoning, transitional spaces, sensory comfort, and culturally respectful planning. These strategies provide an architectural framework for creating healing retreat environments that support emotional balance, empowerment, autonomy, and holistic well-being for women.

Key Words: Women-centric design, Wellness architecture, Healing retreats, Gender-responsive spaces, Holistic well-being

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.