As prisoner numbers in Australia continue to break records rising 40% since 2012*, greater focus is being placed on reducing recidivism rates among offenders. With more than 20 years in the design, documentation and construction of prisons, leading correctional architect Kavan Applegate, believes the key to minimising recidivism rates is in rehabilitative design.
As the lead design consultant on many of Australia’s most innovative correctional projects including the $200 million Hopkins Correctional Centre expansion and the multi-award winning $670 million Ravenhall Prison Project, Kavan Applegate knows how crucial architecture is in secure environments.
“Our environment has a profound effect on us. It changes how we interact with others and how we view ourselves. It reasons, therefore, that the physical environment of a prison influences prisoners, staff, and visitors in a myriad of ways. This leaves us as architects of correctional facilities with a great opportunity, but also a substantial responsibility.” Kavan said.
He continues, “Research demonstrates that if prisoners feel safe, they are more likely to engage in rehabilitation and education programs. With this in mind, master planning of secure accommodation needs to create communities that are engaging, uplifting, and interactive, and also communicate a sense of safety and security.”
Ravenhall Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.
Despite his strong passion for rehabilitative design, the Melbourne-based architect and director of multi-award winning architecture, landscape architecture and interior design practice, Guymer Bailey Architects, hasn’t always specialised in correctional architecture, in fact, getting into it was “by accident” he explains.
“I started to see the size and complexity of some of the correctional projects in the office and was keen to get involved. Once I started, I never escaped.”
While many people may wonder how design could have such a profound impact in the correctional environment, Kavan is resolved, to change behaviour, you must improve the environment.
“As part of our design strategy for secure environments we create normalised environments as much as possible, so there is less institutionalisation, and the transition out of the prison system is easier. Increased access to daylight and external spaces, and minimising unnecessary auditory pollution are methods of decreasing stress levels and subconscious anxiety. They also enhance the likelihood of improved sleep, which is another key factor in improving physical and mental health.”
Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.
He continues, “A calm physical environment is more likely to be a safe and secure environment. The removal of hiding spots through increased passive surveillance and clever planning solutions improve security and this, in turn, decreases user anxiety. Lighting solutions with optimal uniformity are more secure and help to create more pleasant spaces. We place a lot of emphasis on interfacing the design with the operational needs. And on this basis, a high-quality rehabilitative prison operating philosophy, combined with a rehabilitative design is the optimum framework for rehabilitative outcomes.”
According to Yvonne Jewkes, Professor of Criminology at the University of Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, the main difference in Kavan’s approach is that he understands that good architecture is designing not for prisoners, but for people.
“Kavan is unusual, in my experience of prison architects, at least, in that his designs are underpinned by clinical and social scientific research evidence. Designing prisons to rehabilitate offenders is not easy, because of the systemic, structural and social disadvantages that most prisoners come from, and return to, on release from custody. Kavan understands this, but he also believes that prison design can make a profound difference to rehabilitative outcomes.”
She continues, “In part, it is about making practical decisions concerning where to situate key workers like prison officers, psychologists and teachers in relation to prisoners, how many workshops and classrooms are required, how prisoner movement can be facilitated to allow a degree of autonomy and choice, and so on. But these things are also about treating prisoners with decency, dignity and respect to help them on their rehabilitative journey.”
Hopkins Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.
According to Kavan, there will be a more significant push towards rehabilitative design in corrections as the government continues to combat rising prisoner numbers moving forward.
"We have seen notable changes in Australian correctional architecture, and many of these are State-based. Design in some States is definitely moving toward a more rehabilitative approach, especially influenced by Public Private Partnership (PPP) prison projects. The aim for ‘normalisation’ of correctional architecture has had a lot of traction, and in the future I believe this will significantly increase, drawing from contemporary education, university accommodation, and specialised health and mental health typologies."
He continues, "Counter to this, there has been a significant increase in the number of remand prisoners throughout Australia, which has required additional accommodation to be quickly put to market, often within existing secure facilities. This increase in bed numbers within an existing secure perimeter often results in more segregation of prisoner cohorts to manage prisoner movements and congregations. It is then incumbent on the skills of correctional architects to do all possible to retain or enhance the rehabilitative focus in even more contained and intense environments."
Statistic source: *Corrective Services, Australia, June quarter 2018, Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4512.0