If you had to imagine your mental illness or disorder as a house, what would it look like?
Federico Babina has just released a new project called Archiatric, which depicts 16 different conditions as works of architecture in various states of repair. The designs are chillingly abstract, but for anyone living with the agony of mental illness, they're all too accurate. An animated video posted to the Barcelona-based digital artist's YouTube page further intensifies the effect of the images.
Babina is known for architecture-inspired work, using a unique geometric style that takes clear notes from cubism. His designs are often surreal, yet underlined with cheeky humour.
More info: Federico Babina, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
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Anxiety
Depression
Insomnia
Dementia
Omg people...This man is an artist. These are HIS takes on various human conditions. Stop critiquing his choices and just appreciate his gift and willingness to share with the world.
Schizophrenia
Autism
I truly can relate. This is me. I got Asperger, a form of autism where you are actually pretty smart.
Asperger's isn't a mental disorder or a disease...I find its easier to describe it as a social disorder. With myself as an example, I enjoy hanging out with family and friends, but I also enjoy being alone in my own space where I am most comfortable. There is a lot of anxiety involved with socializing because I find it uncomfortable having to explain myself to other people...I have unique and passionate interests that a lot of people do not share and I have a different way of thinking about things! :) The anxiety and isolation get kinda hard sometimes but I think that's just one of the parts of being an Aspie. Most people that I know who are on the spectrum besides myself are highly intelligent. I wish that this wasn't such a common misconception. :)
Being an Aspie myself, I don't actually agree with this portrayal personally. The gap between the lines isn't equal and anyone Autistic what ever the scale would go mental over that. In reference to the arguments about the levels of smartness, it depends on how you define being smart. I have problems remembering my left and right I can forget what number comes after 12 when counting and I lack common sense. But I've got an I.Q. Of 182 and I can recite Pi to over 2,000 numbers. Swings and roundabouts.
Did you notice it's not about spacing of the lines, the lines form a spiral - a house spiral of a house inside a house inside a house inside a house. Or a simplified maze. It's insular but accessible.
Load More Replies...It's called Autism spectrum DISORDER. So yes it is. It's a neurological disorder that affects the brain.
Load More Replies...As an autistic person, I just can't see how this image relates to me at all. I also have severe anxiety and depression, and both of those illustrations seemed very accurate and compelling, but this one just makes me wonder what on earth the artist was trying to express. I'm not entirely sure what autistic people this artist has been hanging out with, but certainly they must be nothing like myself or every other autie I've ever met...
Maybe that's the statement the artist is trying to make about autism: it's hard to understand or it makes things difficult to understand.
Load More Replies...Autism is NOT A mental disorder/illness. It's a developmental delay and therefore a Medical issue.
It's not a developmental delay either and refering to it as such is insulting. It is a born genetic learning disability where the brain processes information and surroundings differently with a sensitivity to over stimulation
Load More Replies...Gender disorder? I'm gonna pretend I'm laughing at that.. At least they didn't include something like "homosexuality disorder". Smh...
Not quite accurate at all, needs color and intricate details in a chaotic pattern that is perfectly constructed to the Autistic eye.
As a man who suffered from childhood autism, this art simply hit me. Why? INNER HOUSE OUTLINE - it represents US :-) WALLS - so many walls, it resembles me how I behave before, I don't want to socialize with the others, I prefer to be alone and just playing with my toys and gadgets. LINE - The maze-like line I think represent that somebody can still reach reach us regardless how thick the wall is, if and only if they are willing to brave the maze.
I feel like part of the reason there's so much of a stir about this is because there are so many interpretations around the words "disorder" and "illness". They could carry so many implications and none of us know which interpretation the other is using.
I'm autistic, and I wouldn't necessarily call it a mental illness... more like a difference. There are pros and cons. Just like being non-autistic. Pros and cons. If I weren't autistic I couldn't do some of the things I can do now, nor persue my career and challenges so passionately.
Asperger's UNITE!!!!! We are unique, we are beautiful!!! I think this is a pretty good showing in picture!
The lines are not straight, the symmetry is all off, this is a total misinterpretation. The picture just looks wrong. This i just a picture to annoy people, i'm sure of it. And the line ends just before the opening in the middle, this must be some kind of torture device...
I feel like this was done by someone on the outside looking in, trying to put what they see into a picture. If I were going to describe autism in the form of a house, I would show you a house that, at a glance, looks like any typical house, and on the inside, has all the same types of rooms you'd expect to see. However, not all of the rooms would serve their expected purpose. The living room might function as the bedroom. The kitchen might function as the laundry room. The bedroom might function as the kitchen. Etc., etc. The person living there makes it work, and functions fine within its walls. However, anyone coming to visit is bewildered trying to make themselves at home, and they are not able to understand how the place is functional. In time the house becomes undesirable to visitors and becomes a de facto prison for its resident.
You are so Wright! My son has autism and I totally feel what you described
Load More Replies...I can relate, I have raised and asd son for 20 years now, he is amazing
What is this supposed to be? An onion... I guess autistic people have many layers, some of which cannot be seen from the outside...
I like this deapicrion however I'd look at it the other way around. With the image of the normal black house on the inside in the middle of the ripples, not a an empty looking house.
Well not every person with autism has the same symptoms
Load More Replies...With all due respect, I'm autistic and I'm always so happy when autism gets included in these sorts of lists.
Load More Replies...Alzheimer
This depicts very well the bits and pieces of memory and habit that linger with this disease. The cracks are nearly all the way through, excellent.
Bipolar
I think this one needs to be worked on.... It's still too safe......
Phobias
Paranoia
Dyslexia
Eating Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
I can relate to this... Though in my experience it's more like being in a bubble. Although i fully appreciate what the artist was aiming for. Good job
Gender Disorder
Narcolepsy
All these disorders are in the DSM, which includes all mental illness, including cognitive/regulatory issues. Narcolepsy, dyslexia, etc are all in there.
That one would be a person inside of a house with way too many windows to choose from, pictured during a mild earthquake.
Load More Replies...I don't think there is "a best one", only different views that "speak" to different people. It's very subjective.
ok but like where is ADHD? i have adhd and was waiting to see what it would look like
Why is autism being put in with mental illnesses? I'm Autistic (Not-high all that high functioning either even though I can type well) and it's a nuerotype not an illness. It is just a different order in the structure of the brain where as mental illness is an actual sickness within the brain. --your resident Autistic Psych/Anthro double Major
Autism = something wrong with your brain = your brain is abnormal. See no problem with it being grouped in with mental disorders.
Load More Replies...Wondering if the artist could add one for BPD... I'd be interested to see how that is depicted
the ocd one is making me frustrated cuz the point of the chevrons doesnt line up with the point of the house... (there's my ocd showing)
Totally agree I have search the comments just to check I'm not the only person with this issue. Also I have autism I feel it's specific enough. I felt it shouldn't stop I feel it should be like a fractal. As my head never stops. Xx
Load More Replies...No it isn’t, I believe they are supposed to be representing the inside of the brain. Autism isn’t a mental illness either, but it definitely messes with the brain.
Load More Replies...Autism isn't a mental illness or disorder. It's a developmental delay and MEDICAL issue.
Not necessarily a delay - I'm an Asperger autistic so I didn't have the developmental delays associated with classica autism.
Load More Replies...I have no idea why they threw narcolepsy in here. Narcolepsy isn't a mental illness, nor is it caused by one. It's a neurological disorder.
That's what I came on here to say. I guess the artist thinks that if a process involves the brain, it's a mental disorder? Really unfortunate, especially considering there's already such misinformation around about narcolepsy.
Load More Replies...Phony and contrived, that's what this is. Mental illnesses are so popular on the Net these days that every attention vulture has to have their take on them. I don't know why is "architecture" dragged into this anyhow - stylized silhouettes of houses do not architecture make.
Gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder... or as most people would just say "being transgender". :)
Load More Replies...Wonder why houses, though... like, we're all pieces of monopoly n that life is just a game?
She's an architect, I suppose that's the reason. I don't find it right too.
Load More Replies...I just wish they would do one combining some of the houses as many of these conditions coexist. It also might bee nice to see ADHD represented as it severely affects so many people.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/30629721/Cities-with-mental-disorder
How is there narcolepsy bit not epilepsy? It being one of the most common mental illnesses and yet still neglected and unknown to the public.
Neither narcolepsy nor epilepsy should be here, as neither are mental illnesses/disorders.
Load More Replies...This is far too reductionist for most of the conditions mentioned. The issues are too complex to be adequately conveyed by a single image and this will lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. The anxiety, depression, OCD and bipolar are particularly awful.
Using "a shadow of a house" To Explain 16 Mental Illnesses And Disorders...and call it "archiatric"...I think he should use his own shadow and call it "psychiatric"...yep that's better. :)))
To everyone complaining how autism and whatever else isn’t a mental illness, read the title........mental illness AND DISORDERS. Now you can relax. And as far as the missing ones, it does not say a COMPLETE list, so you can relax too 🙂
Some of them were Right On, others I didn’t quite relate to each other
Interesting, I always thought of myself as a poorly fitted modular home.
After watching the movie it took all of 1 minute of listening to Carson on the campaign trail to know he was an idiot.
OCD and the pattern out of order like that at the top?!?? Maybe I don't get it...
I am not, none of us is a broken house. This is a ver y problematic and simplified depiction of our experiences. It is a reminder of how broken the world thinks we are. Representations like these should be left for people who have actually experienced this stuff. Also autism as a disorder should be out if the question! As many others on this list. I found this very upsetting. You shouldn't do art about things that you don't understand and haven't experienced, it turns into a hurtful mess. I get that some people like to see this though, sometimes we find comfort in bad representation because we feel it acknowledges our existence. I sure don't feel reflected on this
Hate that they still say Gender DISORDER. Even the DSM5 has made recommendations about not calling it "a disorder or mental illness".
Well, I would ask where the ADHD one was, but I guess they forgot it lol
How about multiple personality disorder? It would be a whole neighborhood. Also, I wish the schizophrenia one was more "trippy"...like all hallucination-ish
That ocd one is hidious, nothing matches at either side. What about bpd
Autism is not a mental disorder, it is a developmental disability.
If you people think it's a shame that certain disorders aren't done then do it yourself. An artist came up with this and created this in their free time, so enjoy it instead of whining about it.
I love your amazing art; however, now is 21st century, who is still stigmatizing transgender as "gender disorder" Gender equity, remember?
Narcissistic personality disorder. All the mirrors and doors open to you
Narcolepsy is not a mental illness/disorder! It's a neurological disorder! FFS get it right!
Pretty intense drawings. Very cool approach. I expected more for the OCD one, which is the one I have. Cause it can feel like the anxiety drawing. Its more like infinite "what ifs" threaten your life, while you're chained to do compulsions in order to neutralize those thoughts, never taking a break. Many people see it just as a disorder that makes you neat and organized. I have "Pure O" which is about having intrusive thoughts and neutralizing them via other thoughts so it doesn't even show itself
I'm autistic but the autism one makes no sense whatsoever to me. Also, autism is not a mental illness; it's a neurological variation.
It's a mental phenomenon that leads to confusion and even depression. It can be addressed surgically. What about this is not a disorder that needs to be dealt with? Disorder does not mean negative. it simply means that it is out of the ordinary and needs to be taken care of in one form or another. So much political correctness. it makes me cringe.
Load More Replies...What do you think BPD would look like? My idea is a house with rapidly openning & slamming doors and a human figure endlessly running in and out.
And let's not foret the ever-popular narcissist. (Maybe a house of mirrors?)
Interesting concept. I can't say that mine (anorexia) resonates with me, but it's nice that eating disorders was included
Very expressive yet powerful message.though so simplistic.Marvellous designs
I don't get the eating disorder one. I have struggled with EDs all my life, and although I know this is someone's artistic interpretation, I don't get what the artist was trying to say with that house...
Probably not the most popular opinion, but I think they are a bit c**p. They are just basic houses, with scribbles or simple patterns... and I don't understand how someone with a few of these different illness' can enjoy these as I feel they oversimplify. Depressions not just a drippy house.
Too much complaint from the people who, actually, should be thankful this man share his art to us. It's an opinion, just another point of view that we should count on it. There isn't an exact example or description about this kind of "illness", like the human been we all are different even to explain something. Thanks for your aport, and people... Less perfectionist and more grateful
Too much complaint from the people who, actually, should be thankful this man share his art to us. It's an opinion, just another point of view that we should count on it. There isn't an exact example or description about this kind of "illness", like the human been we all are different even to explain something. Thanks for your aport, and people... Less ego-perfectionist and more grateful
The OCD one is so frustrating that the chevrons are not perfect! Nyargh!!!!
These are awesome! Too bad PTSD, Learning deficit disorder, and Tourette's
Thanks Frederico, this was really interesting .. made me think about what these conditions might actually feel like .
To those complaining about the OCD one not being symmetric.... OCD isn't always about symmetry. If you truly deal with it you would know that. People confuse OCD with OCPD quite a bit now because a few memes made them diagnose themselves.
not every single disorder can be here guys. this is one artist, not The Artist Of Society. 1. i've seen several mental illness depictions that include ADHD and BPD etc. 2. perhaps experiment and draw your illness yourself? nothing better than the experient's genuine mind itself.
This is really clever. I love it when people depict their own understanding and view of certain topics. Great insight into the human condition... And the related comments too.
Gender Disorder??? Really? And Dyslexia???? The latter is Additional Learning Need not a mental illness!
The art is good but the article and the title are im some cases inapropriate
Load More Replies...The ocd one isn't symmetric and the top looks wierd on both sides and the person is standing to the right more. Its just not perfect
The narcolepsy one needs calendars with the pages flying away and clocks with the hands spinning. That's how I feel, that my life just disappears in big chunks.
Load More Replies...I agree that this is a helpful approach to help people understand. I think it is much more than art -- and as such I want to say that the dissociative disorders house might be more illustrative if it had a bunch of smaller houses inside, rather than just one big scary dark one. There is a lot of life - and lives - inside a dissociative mind.
Dunno if I would describe my dyslexia as a mental illnesses or disorder.
You put dementia, then a couple different forms of dementia... I feel like it was a good attempt but not well enough researched
Autism is neither a mental illness nor a mental disorder, it is a developmental disorder. And I really don't see how the image representing autism. well, is in any way even remotely representative of autism.
I have autism and I can deeply relate to every one of them except the autism one. Can someone please explain?
You're going to be more critical towards the one you relate to most. So the ones that you don't relate to as strong, but because you have your own experience with autism, you had a different idea in your head than the artist did in theirs.
Load More Replies...I can't really relate much, I have yet to see one of these series illustrating ADD and/or panic anxiety.
They can't... There would be no building, just a person.
Load More Replies...Mental illnesses are real illnesses and Alzheimer's is a illness of the mind aka mental disorder 😂
Load More Replies...I was disappointed that there was no gender disorder, epilepsy, or BPD
I have to disagree on the OCD. Parts of the patterns are out of wack! Balance, I need BALANCE! Seems a bit like went one of the cupboards are left open.
That one would be a person inside of a house with way too many windows to choose from, pictured during a mild earthquake.
Load More Replies...I don't think there is "a best one", only different views that "speak" to different people. It's very subjective.
ok but like where is ADHD? i have adhd and was waiting to see what it would look like
Why is autism being put in with mental illnesses? I'm Autistic (Not-high all that high functioning either even though I can type well) and it's a nuerotype not an illness. It is just a different order in the structure of the brain where as mental illness is an actual sickness within the brain. --your resident Autistic Psych/Anthro double Major
Autism = something wrong with your brain = your brain is abnormal. See no problem with it being grouped in with mental disorders.
Load More Replies...Wondering if the artist could add one for BPD... I'd be interested to see how that is depicted
the ocd one is making me frustrated cuz the point of the chevrons doesnt line up with the point of the house... (there's my ocd showing)
Totally agree I have search the comments just to check I'm not the only person with this issue. Also I have autism I feel it's specific enough. I felt it shouldn't stop I feel it should be like a fractal. As my head never stops. Xx
Load More Replies...No it isn’t, I believe they are supposed to be representing the inside of the brain. Autism isn’t a mental illness either, but it definitely messes with the brain.
Load More Replies...Autism isn't a mental illness or disorder. It's a developmental delay and MEDICAL issue.
Not necessarily a delay - I'm an Asperger autistic so I didn't have the developmental delays associated with classica autism.
Load More Replies...I have no idea why they threw narcolepsy in here. Narcolepsy isn't a mental illness, nor is it caused by one. It's a neurological disorder.
That's what I came on here to say. I guess the artist thinks that if a process involves the brain, it's a mental disorder? Really unfortunate, especially considering there's already such misinformation around about narcolepsy.
Load More Replies...Phony and contrived, that's what this is. Mental illnesses are so popular on the Net these days that every attention vulture has to have their take on them. I don't know why is "architecture" dragged into this anyhow - stylized silhouettes of houses do not architecture make.
Gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder... or as most people would just say "being transgender". :)
Load More Replies...Wonder why houses, though... like, we're all pieces of monopoly n that life is just a game?
She's an architect, I suppose that's the reason. I don't find it right too.
Load More Replies...I just wish they would do one combining some of the houses as many of these conditions coexist. It also might bee nice to see ADHD represented as it severely affects so many people.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/30629721/Cities-with-mental-disorder
How is there narcolepsy bit not epilepsy? It being one of the most common mental illnesses and yet still neglected and unknown to the public.
Neither narcolepsy nor epilepsy should be here, as neither are mental illnesses/disorders.
Load More Replies...This is far too reductionist for most of the conditions mentioned. The issues are too complex to be adequately conveyed by a single image and this will lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. The anxiety, depression, OCD and bipolar are particularly awful.
Using "a shadow of a house" To Explain 16 Mental Illnesses And Disorders...and call it "archiatric"...I think he should use his own shadow and call it "psychiatric"...yep that's better. :)))
To everyone complaining how autism and whatever else isn’t a mental illness, read the title........mental illness AND DISORDERS. Now you can relax. And as far as the missing ones, it does not say a COMPLETE list, so you can relax too 🙂
Some of them were Right On, others I didn’t quite relate to each other
Interesting, I always thought of myself as a poorly fitted modular home.
After watching the movie it took all of 1 minute of listening to Carson on the campaign trail to know he was an idiot.
OCD and the pattern out of order like that at the top?!?? Maybe I don't get it...
I am not, none of us is a broken house. This is a ver y problematic and simplified depiction of our experiences. It is a reminder of how broken the world thinks we are. Representations like these should be left for people who have actually experienced this stuff. Also autism as a disorder should be out if the question! As many others on this list. I found this very upsetting. You shouldn't do art about things that you don't understand and haven't experienced, it turns into a hurtful mess. I get that some people like to see this though, sometimes we find comfort in bad representation because we feel it acknowledges our existence. I sure don't feel reflected on this
Hate that they still say Gender DISORDER. Even the DSM5 has made recommendations about not calling it "a disorder or mental illness".
Well, I would ask where the ADHD one was, but I guess they forgot it lol
How about multiple personality disorder? It would be a whole neighborhood. Also, I wish the schizophrenia one was more "trippy"...like all hallucination-ish
That ocd one is hidious, nothing matches at either side. What about bpd
Autism is not a mental disorder, it is a developmental disability.
If you people think it's a shame that certain disorders aren't done then do it yourself. An artist came up with this and created this in their free time, so enjoy it instead of whining about it.
I love your amazing art; however, now is 21st century, who is still stigmatizing transgender as "gender disorder" Gender equity, remember?
Narcissistic personality disorder. All the mirrors and doors open to you
Narcolepsy is not a mental illness/disorder! It's a neurological disorder! FFS get it right!
Pretty intense drawings. Very cool approach. I expected more for the OCD one, which is the one I have. Cause it can feel like the anxiety drawing. Its more like infinite "what ifs" threaten your life, while you're chained to do compulsions in order to neutralize those thoughts, never taking a break. Many people see it just as a disorder that makes you neat and organized. I have "Pure O" which is about having intrusive thoughts and neutralizing them via other thoughts so it doesn't even show itself
I'm autistic but the autism one makes no sense whatsoever to me. Also, autism is not a mental illness; it's a neurological variation.
It's a mental phenomenon that leads to confusion and even depression. It can be addressed surgically. What about this is not a disorder that needs to be dealt with? Disorder does not mean negative. it simply means that it is out of the ordinary and needs to be taken care of in one form or another. So much political correctness. it makes me cringe.
Load More Replies...What do you think BPD would look like? My idea is a house with rapidly openning & slamming doors and a human figure endlessly running in and out.
And let's not foret the ever-popular narcissist. (Maybe a house of mirrors?)
Interesting concept. I can't say that mine (anorexia) resonates with me, but it's nice that eating disorders was included
Very expressive yet powerful message.though so simplistic.Marvellous designs
I don't get the eating disorder one. I have struggled with EDs all my life, and although I know this is someone's artistic interpretation, I don't get what the artist was trying to say with that house...
Probably not the most popular opinion, but I think they are a bit c**p. They are just basic houses, with scribbles or simple patterns... and I don't understand how someone with a few of these different illness' can enjoy these as I feel they oversimplify. Depressions not just a drippy house.
Too much complaint from the people who, actually, should be thankful this man share his art to us. It's an opinion, just another point of view that we should count on it. There isn't an exact example or description about this kind of "illness", like the human been we all are different even to explain something. Thanks for your aport, and people... Less perfectionist and more grateful
Too much complaint from the people who, actually, should be thankful this man share his art to us. It's an opinion, just another point of view that we should count on it. There isn't an exact example or description about this kind of "illness", like the human been we all are different even to explain something. Thanks for your aport, and people... Less ego-perfectionist and more grateful
The OCD one is so frustrating that the chevrons are not perfect! Nyargh!!!!
These are awesome! Too bad PTSD, Learning deficit disorder, and Tourette's
Thanks Frederico, this was really interesting .. made me think about what these conditions might actually feel like .
To those complaining about the OCD one not being symmetric.... OCD isn't always about symmetry. If you truly deal with it you would know that. People confuse OCD with OCPD quite a bit now because a few memes made them diagnose themselves.
not every single disorder can be here guys. this is one artist, not The Artist Of Society. 1. i've seen several mental illness depictions that include ADHD and BPD etc. 2. perhaps experiment and draw your illness yourself? nothing better than the experient's genuine mind itself.
This is really clever. I love it when people depict their own understanding and view of certain topics. Great insight into the human condition... And the related comments too.
Gender Disorder??? Really? And Dyslexia???? The latter is Additional Learning Need not a mental illness!
The art is good but the article and the title are im some cases inapropriate
Load More Replies...The ocd one isn't symmetric and the top looks wierd on both sides and the person is standing to the right more. Its just not perfect
The narcolepsy one needs calendars with the pages flying away and clocks with the hands spinning. That's how I feel, that my life just disappears in big chunks.
Load More Replies...I agree that this is a helpful approach to help people understand. I think it is much more than art -- and as such I want to say that the dissociative disorders house might be more illustrative if it had a bunch of smaller houses inside, rather than just one big scary dark one. There is a lot of life - and lives - inside a dissociative mind.
Dunno if I would describe my dyslexia as a mental illnesses or disorder.
You put dementia, then a couple different forms of dementia... I feel like it was a good attempt but not well enough researched
Autism is neither a mental illness nor a mental disorder, it is a developmental disorder. And I really don't see how the image representing autism. well, is in any way even remotely representative of autism.
I have autism and I can deeply relate to every one of them except the autism one. Can someone please explain?
You're going to be more critical towards the one you relate to most. So the ones that you don't relate to as strong, but because you have your own experience with autism, you had a different idea in your head than the artist did in theirs.
Load More Replies...I can't really relate much, I have yet to see one of these series illustrating ADD and/or panic anxiety.
They can't... There would be no building, just a person.
Load More Replies...Mental illnesses are real illnesses and Alzheimer's is a illness of the mind aka mental disorder 😂
Load More Replies...I was disappointed that there was no gender disorder, epilepsy, or BPD
I have to disagree on the OCD. Parts of the patterns are out of wack! Balance, I need BALANCE! Seems a bit like went one of the cupboards are left open.