Charulotta Hossain

46% of all prisoners return to prison after around three years. This could indicate insufficient rehabilitation and a lack of social reintegration. The architecture of prisons plays a decisive role in this, as living conditions and lifestyles during imprisonment have a lasting impact on the psychological development of prisoners. In Norway, where a fundamentally different prison system with open structures and more personal responsibility is practiced, the recidivism rate is only around 20%. This suggests that new architectural approaches combined with innovative rehabilitation concepts can be successful. 

On the site of the current Iserlohn prison, which is to be demolished, a new prison model is being proposed that deliberately challenges the classic hierarchical surveillance structure. The design is based on small residential units houising around six people each. This structure allows for more individualized care and reduces the psychological stress of constant surveillance. Instead of the interior spaces, it is mainly the outdoor areas that are monitored, giving inmates more privacy and personal responsibility within their living units.

The architecture is based on urban structures in order to promote a feeling of normality and freedom despite the conditions of imprisonment. The grounds are divided into different zones: depending on the severity of their sentence and their chances of rehabilitation, inmates can progress from the closed area at the rear to the open prison at the front of the property.

A central communal building forms the interface between the two areas and acts as a social hub. It also opens up to the neighborhood: sports facilities and event rooms are also available to the public. This facilitates exchange between the inside and outside worlds—a targeted architectural measure to promote social participation and sustainable rehabilitation.

The aim of this design was to create a prison that not only restrain, but also reshape.

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