Is An Architecturally Ethical Prison Possible?

Sarah Dalby is a second-year Architectural Engineering student at UT Austin. She enjoys cats, architecture, and design. She created this project in AMS 311S Prison Art, Literature, and Protest.

I have created 3D models of two very different prisons. The first, which is a scientifically oppressive prison, comes from the Quaker school of thought. Using the Panopticon theory as described by Foucault, the cells are arranged in a circle which all face inwards toward a guard observation tower. The cells are 5 feet by 9 feet and each have a small toilet installed, which I drew from an article about Alcatraz, which is famous for its subpar conditions (“Alcatraz - Quick Facts”). Everything is made of concrete and metal, which causes the temperature to always be extremely cold or extremely hot. These materials also cause the sound to reverberate and cause raised levels of stress in the incarcerated people, as well as the guards (Slade). As in the concept of the panopticon, there is no privacy, as the inmates can be seen by the guards at all times because of the architectural shape of the building. The materials and lack of natural lighting also contribute to sensory deprivation of the prisoners and mental deterioration. While this prison is meant to be cost-effective and secure, its implementation would contribute to the continued inhumane treatment of incarcerated people and mental illnesses inside carceral facilities.

For the more “ethical” prison, I wanted to utilize organic shapes and natural lighting, which are both proven to be reparative design features and promote healing. While it may be a carceral facility, it can still be comfortable and interesting, as well as serve as a valuable piece of architecture in a wider context. While my model is very simplistic, I wanted to exemplify some proven/researched aspects that would “improve” prison life for incarcerated individuals. One aspect was the inclusion of options for living quarters; inmates would have the option to choose a private room (which are all larger than my college dorm room) or a community-living style, which still has privacy measures. It is important to provide options and choice in an environment where one is already oppressed and unable to leave in order to preserve one's identity and protect their privacy. While there should be the option for community living, Oshinsky warns that open bunks in a large room can create violence and even increase the likelihood of sexual assaults, so it is important that there is adequate privacy in both living options (Oshinsky). In the private rooms, there is furniture and bathrooms that meet a standard for “safe” cells as established by the English Prison Service (Fairweather). These measures work to avoid suicide attempts and create a more supportive and sanitary environment. This is accomplished in part by using warmer, softer materials such as cork, wood, fabric, etc. These kinds of materials are repeated throughout the prison rooms and structure in order to reduce sound reverberation and make temperature regulation easier. These seemingly small features contribute to the overall comfort and mental stability of the incarcerated individuals and would be a substantial improvement to current carceral facilities. In the images, there is also mountain scenery which further contributes to healing and creates a connection to nature.

The biggest takeaway from this project, in my opinion, is that it would not be difficult to build more humane prisons. The question of why governments do not attempt to achieve a higher standard for prison architecture is a complicated topic that should be explored in a larger context. There are simple improvements that would significantly improve conditions and mental illness, while still keeping costs low (and sometimes lower)than what is currently in place.

Works Cited

“Alcatraz - Quick Facts.” ​Alcatraz Facts & Figures,​ Ocean View Publishing, www.alcatrazhistory.com/factsnfig.htm.

Fairweather, Leslie, and McConville Seán. Prison Architecture: Policy, Design, and Experience.​ 1st ed., Architectural Press, 2003.

Foucault, Michel “Race/Ethnicity: Multidisciplinary Global Contexts.” ​Project MUSE​, muse.jhu.edu/article/252435.

“Redesigning Prison: the Architecture and Ethics of Rehabilitation.” ​Taylor & Francis​, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13602365.2019.1578072​.

Oshinsky, David M. ​"Worse than Slavery": Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice​. Free Press Paperbacks Published by Simon & Schuster, 1997.

Slade, Rachael. “Is There Such a Thing as ‘Good’ Prison Design?” ​Architectural Digest​, 30 Apr. 2018,

www.architecturaldigest.com/story/is-there-such-a-thing-as-good-prison-design.