What do you think?
Rate this book
The Architecture of Madness: Insane Asylums in the United States
Elaborately conceived, grandly constructed insane asylums—ranging in appearance from classical temples to Gothic castles—were once a common sight looming on the outskirts of American towns and cities. Many of these buildings were razed long ago, and those that remain stand as grim reminders of an often cruel system.
For much of the nineteenth century, however, these asylums epitomized the widely held belief among doctors and social reformers that insanity was a curable disease and that environment—architecture in particular—was the most effective means of treatment. In The Architecture of Madness, Carla Yanni tells a compelling story of therapeutic design, from America’s earliest purpose—built institutions for the insane to the asylum construction frenzy in the second half of the century. At the center of Yanni’s inquiry is Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, a Pennsylvania-born Quaker, who in the 1840s devised a novel way to house the mentally diseased that emphasized segregation by severity of illness, ease of treatment and surveillance, and ventilation.
After the Civil War, American architects designed Kirkbride-plan hospitals across the country. Before the end of the century, interest in the Kirkbride plan had begun to decline. Many of the asylums had deteriorated into human warehouses, strengthening arguments against the monolithic structures advocated by Kirkbride. At the same time, the medical profession began embracing a more neurological approach to mental disease that considered architecture as largely irrelevant to its treatment.
Generously illustrated, The Architecture of Madness is a fresh and original look at the American medical establishment’s century-long preoccupation with therapeutic architecture as a way to cure social ills. Carla Yanni is associate professor of art history at Rutgers University and the author of Nature’s Museums: Victorian Science and the Architecture of Display.
For much of the nineteenth century, however, these asylums epitomized the widely held belief among doctors and social reformers that insanity was a curable disease and that environment—architecture in particular—was the most effective means of treatment. In The Architecture of Madness, Carla Yanni tells a compelling story of therapeutic design, from America’s earliest purpose—built institutions for the insane to the asylum construction frenzy in the second half of the century. At the center of Yanni’s inquiry is Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, a Pennsylvania-born Quaker, who in the 1840s devised a novel way to house the mentally diseased that emphasized segregation by severity of illness, ease of treatment and surveillance, and ventilation.
After the Civil War, American architects designed Kirkbride-plan hospitals across the country. Before the end of the century, interest in the Kirkbride plan had begun to decline. Many of the asylums had deteriorated into human warehouses, strengthening arguments against the monolithic structures advocated by Kirkbride. At the same time, the medical profession began embracing a more neurological approach to mental disease that considered architecture as largely irrelevant to its treatment.
Generously illustrated, The Architecture of Madness is a fresh and original look at the American medical establishment’s century-long preoccupation with therapeutic architecture as a way to cure social ills. Carla Yanni is associate professor of art history at Rutgers University and the author of Nature’s Museums: Victorian Science and the Architecture of Display.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
19 people are currently reading
675 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 12, 2017
I do really like this series, the books are approachable and beautifully designed with excellent photographs. I would have preferred more general commentary as opposed to straight case studies like much of the book. Still a very strong definitive study, good for lay enthusiasts or professionals.
January 1, 2024
I grew up just a few miles from the Hudson River State Hospital. Years after I moved away it became derelict. It’s now being turned into a multi-use (condo, stores, etc) area.
I’m fascinated by these old buildings.
ps I know from old records that both of my paternal grandparents, as teens, met at the Hudson River State Hospital. She worked in the kitchen, he on the grounds. It was very refreshing, and reassuring, to learn that what allowed Poughkeepsie to win the bid over Newburgh, was that P’town promised more jobs for the locals. (I’d always wondered what their role was at that institution 😂)
I’m fascinated by these old buildings.
ps I know from old records that both of my paternal grandparents, as teens, met at the Hudson River State Hospital. She worked in the kitchen, he on the grounds. It was very refreshing, and reassuring, to learn that what allowed Poughkeepsie to win the bid over Newburgh, was that P’town promised more jobs for the locals. (I’d always wondered what their role was at that institution 😂)
Read
December 22, 2020Fave Quote:
I looked at the pretty lawn, which I had once thought was such a comfort to poor creatures confined on the island, and laughed at my own notions. What enjoyment is it to them? They are not allowed on the grass—it is only to look at. I saw some patients eagerly and caressingly lift a nut or a colored leaf that had fallen on the path. But they were not allowed to keep them. The nurses would always compel them to throw their little bit of God’s comfort away.
Quote from another book called ten days in a Mad-house.
This book was fascinating and specific history. Blows my mind.
I looked at the pretty lawn, which I had once thought was such a comfort to poor creatures confined on the island, and laughed at my own notions. What enjoyment is it to them? They are not allowed on the grass—it is only to look at. I saw some patients eagerly and caressingly lift a nut or a colored leaf that had fallen on the path. But they were not allowed to keep them. The nurses would always compel them to throw their little bit of God’s comfort away.
Quote from another book called ten days in a Mad-house.
This book was fascinating and specific history. Blows my mind.
March 3, 2020
An interesting book that describes the history of architecture of housing for the treatment of the mentally ill ( and interestingly, other "dependent groups") as an outgrowth of attitudes about the needs, determinism, and treatment of the mentally ill.
November 26, 2015
I found this book to be quite useful during my research on the Kings Park Psychiatric Center and asylum construction in general. It had plenty of photos and illustrations to aid with the visuals for the types of architectural plans used when it came to the construction of asylums. I also liked how quotes were used at the start of chapters. In fact, I liked the idea so much, I decided to do the same with my book about the Kings Park Psychiatric Center. I took it a step further and used a wide variety of quotes, but all are pertinent to the subject and specifically to the chapter in which they have been used.
October 7, 2014
Interesting book about the history of the architecture that went into these hospitals. A lot of pictures.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews