Susanna Shearer
N0443504
Nottingham Trent University
Interior Architecture (Year 4)
2.) Historical Prison Design
Panoptican Design
“To induce a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power. So to arrange things that the surveillance is permanent in its effects, even if it is discontinuous in its action; that the perfection of power should tend to render its actual exercise unnecessary” ( FOUCAULT, 1977, p.154).
Jeremy Bentham’s Panoptican design was established in the 18th century. A central viewing tower with tiered prisoner cells arranged around the tower allowed constant, unobstructed surveillance into the inmate’s cells which acted as a control mechanism (FOUCAULT, 1977).
“The psychological objective of such a system was that the subjects of surveillance would believe that their only logical option was to conform” (STUDYMORE, 2015). This design appears to have had a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of the inmates due to the severe lack of privacy. Moreover, staff and prisoners relationships were likely to be detached due to the physical distance between them as a result of the design. This weak relationship would consequently be detrimental to the inmate’s rehabilitation progression as “positive relationships between the staff and the inmate are deemed fundamental to the smooth functioning of the facility” (SPENS, 1994, p.9).
The Panoptican design was never erected but it applied a big influence on future prison architecture which can be seen in the proceeding examples below.
Radial Design, HMP Pentonville
In the radial design, “prisoners would be held in cells in long galleries, radiating from a central point” (ROHRER, 2007). This allowed efficient monitoring of inmates from the central core. HMP Pentonville was constructed in 1842 and was the first UK radial prison.
Each cell had a small window providing natural light and ventilation. Ducts flowed throughout the cells allowing heating and cross ventilation which improved inmate’s health (MORRIS, 1963). It is therefore evident that radial designs were able to improve the quality of life by making internal conditions safer and more humane, lowering the risk of diseases.
Moreover, “the advantages of the radial wing design were abundant in the nineteenth century, for a single officer standing in the centre could, by moving his head through 180 degrees, observe each of the four wings in turn”(MORRIS, 1963, p.13). This suggests the design provided a secure environment for the inmates with maximum observation for the staff such that incidents could be identified and reached quickly.
“Every inmate was kept in solitary confinement for most of the day and communication with others, even tapping pipes, was strictly forbidden” (ROHRER, 2007). Research explores the idea that exposure to solitary confinement can have a negative affect on the health and well-being of inmates as well as damaging their rehabilitation process (WHO, 2015).
This design puts the inmate in total isolation with a lack of communication. Considering what we know today about the importance of psychological factors, the radial design appeared to have been purely for punitive purposes with little attention paid to the mental health and rehabilitation of inmates.
New Wave, HMP Blundeston
In 1959, the government commissioned the White Paper Penal Practice in a Changing Society to deal with the increasing problems in the prison system and the rising population. HMP Blundeston was one of the first new wave prisons to be built in England which rejected the traditional Victorian radial design (PASTCAPE, 2015).
“The plan of the prison consists of four four-storied T-shaped cell blocks with floored landings, arranged around a central common service block” (PASTCAPE, 2015). It appears to take inspiration from the radial design layout due to the central core which is key for staff observation and control. The cells at HMP Blundeston were of a smaller design than the traditional cells as it was anticipated that prisoners would spend less times in their cells as they would be partaking in work activities conducive to their rehabilitation (FAIRWEATHER, 2000). However, “by the late 1980s the problems with the 1960s wing type had been recognised. It was expensive to staff, it made staff and inmates feel vulnerable in the spurs, and it lacked air and light in the corridors” (PASTCAPE, 2015).
This evidence suggests that the prison design wasn’t conducive to the rehabilitation progress due to the security issues as well as the lack of air and light which would have had a negative impact on the inmate’s wellbeing. “Adequate ventilation and lighting, including access to daylight, are among the basic elements required to ensure the health and well-being of detainees” (DETENTION FOCUS, 2013).
However, the introduction of rehabilitation schemes was proactive and positive in comparison to HMP Pentonville’s silent methods of reforming which can be seen as reactive and ineffective.
New Generation, HMP Woodhill
The control review committee was set up in 1984 to mend the existing prison problems and produce a clear vision for the prison system as a whole. “The new generation prisons were an answer to these problems” (FAIRWEATHER, 2000, p.46).
The new generation prisons were similar in approach to the new wave prisons which preceded them in the sense that they both encouraged closer staff and prisoner relations. However, staff and operations tended to be the main focus of the new generation prisons. HMP Woodhill opened in 1992 and it was the first new generation prison in the UK. Similarly to HMP Blundeston, rehabilitation and therapy were introduced into these systems by offering work and other incentives to the inmates in the hope of changing the inmate’s bad habits (FAIREWEATHER, 2000).
“The purpose of the prison was to provide a secure and caring environment with a positive regime and to encourage the development of the staff and inmates and provide support within a safe, orderly work culture” (JAMES, 1997).
Groups of cells were arranged in four levels around multi-use communal areas and avoided the use of long grey corridors. Sanitation and windows were present in each cell which helped ventilate the spaces. The interiors were designed to be light and airy; suitable acoustics and materials were included to diminish noise levels. “Staff could control inmates less conspicuously and were able to foster better personal relationships” (FAIREWEATHER, 2000, p.12).
This is similar to the approach of the new wave prisons, however HMP Woodhill has clearly advanced onwards from HMP Blundeston due to the fact the design was formed solely around the basis of fostering better relationships at the hope of aiding rehabilitation. Moreover, a big emphasis was placed on creating humane living conditions, which may have positively impacted the inmate’s mental health and physical well-being.
On reflection, it is evident that the central goal of prisons and their historical design has always been to punish, maintain control and keep the public safe. Little attention has been paid to the effects that incarceration has on prisoners and their overall wellbeing, rehabilitation and reintegration into society. However, over recent years the basis behind prison design has changed from primarily punishment to a mixture of punishment and rehabilitation in order to allow the prisoners to reform, lower their chance of reoffending and improve their prospects of reintegrating successfully into society.
Figure 5 - Panoptican Design
