In Egypt, the need for mental health support is more urgent than ever, yet the environments designed for care are often intimidating, inaccessible, or emotionally exhausting. At the same time, the country continues to struggle with stray animal overpopulation, leaving thousands of dogs and cats vulnerable to unsafe conditions, with few sustainable sheltering solutions. Therapet was born from the intersection of these two pressing societal gaps.
Therapet is a hybrid therapeutic center and animal shelter, designed to serve both people and animals through the healing power of human-animal connection. The project aims to redefine how we think of care spaces, especially for individuals healing from trauma, anxiety, or emotional distress.
The approach is rooted in Trauma-Informed Design (TID): an architectural philosophy that prioritizes psychological safety, sensory regulation, and user empowerment. These principles guided the spatial layout, zoning, material selection, lighting strategies, and acoustic planning throughout the center.
But Therapet goes a step further: it introduces animal-assisted therapy as a foundational component of the architectural program. Rather than being clinical add-ons, animals are integrated holistically into the therapy experience, from one-on-one sessions to casual interactions in communal areas.
The conceptual backbone of the project is inspired by the Neurographic Line which is a free-flowing, organic form that visually and symbolically represents emotional release, transformation, and symbiosis. This line guided circulation paths, zoning curves, and ceiling treatments, reinforcing movement, softness, and visual calmness across the entire design.
The project unfolds through multiple interconnected functions:
• A mental health therapy center offering one-to-one, group, and movement-based treatment sessions
• A stray animal shelter providing medical care, recovery spaces, and adoption zones
• Shared environments like pet-friendly cafés and walking gardens that blur the line between therapy and daily life, offering people the ability to interact with animals in informal, low-pressure ways
Therapet is not just a place for treatment, it’s a place for restoration, trust-building, and human-pet bonding. It treats animals not as accessories to therapy but as co-participants in healing. The architectural experience reflects this empathy at every turn.
By combining social architecture, mental healthcare, and animal welfare into one ecosystem, Therapet proposes a new typology:
A space where both species are seen, heard, and healed.
The highlighted zones:
1. Reception Area
Designed to feel more like a sanctuary than a clinic, the reception welcomes visitors with soft lighting, open sightlines, and calming materials like marmoleum and acoustic plaster. Transparent pet kennels nearby offer immediate connection to animals, easing tension from the moment users enter.
2. Pet-Friendly Café
This public zone allows for informal, non-clinical human-animal interaction — a space for social connection, stress relief, and emotional support. Materials are selected for durability and warmth, creating a cozy environment that breaks down the sterile feel of traditional therapeutic settings.
3. Yoga Room
The yoga space hosts guided animal-assisted movement therapy sessions. It uses natural textures, soft floor finishes, diffused lighting, and wooden ceiling panels to encourage grounding, breathwork, and nervous system regulation. Cats and dogs are integrated gently into the space, enhancing calmness through tactile and emotional engagement.
2025
Zones:
Pet friendly cafe
Yoga rooms
Therapy rooms
Consulting room
Staff offices
Pet kennels
Adoption gardens
Outdoor cat patio
Outdoor walking garden
Food prep and storage
Training courtyard
Staff loungue
Pet isolation rooms
Medical reception
Examination rooms
Surgery rooms
Grooming room
Vet offices
Locker room
Break area
Restrooms
Systems
Tempered glass for pet kennels
Ultra-thin aluminum panels
Sloped floor for pet kennels
Marmoleum pet friendly flooring
Flexible plasterboard
Height adjustable ceiling acoustic panels
Cat kennels with ventilation
HEPA flirtation system
Customized acoustic panels for wall murals
Fire system ( fire extinguisher, fire detector )
HVAC system
Lighting system
Project designed and presented by: Raghad Sayed Ragab
Faculty of Arts & Design - Interior Design Department - MSA University
Under the supervision of:
Prof. Dr. Hoda Madkour
Prof. Dr. Ola Hashem
Prof. Dr. Khaled Hawas
Prof. Dr. Amany Mashhur
Dr. Tarek Fouad
AL. Ghada Ammar
A.L Fatma Zakaria
T.A. Dalia Fekry
T.A. Maryam El-Gohary
T.A Merihane Jebari
T.A Rawan Yasser
Raghad Sayed
