This project is grounded in letters, which provide direct insights into lived experiences within cell 179, Champ-Dollon Prison.

These personal narratives paint a vivid picture of how the physical environment shapes emotional deterioration. They established the ethical foundation of this project: A prison should claim rehabilitation and therefore deserves a humane design that contributes to mental well-being.

Consequently, Cell 179 is reimagined. Drawing directly from described stressors and expressed needs, the redesign introduces sensorially engaging materials and structures the cell into four layers: memory, present, escape, and express. Each layer responds to a psychological state and explores how spatial interventions within an existing cell can move towards rehabilitative design.